Game 5 Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets Prediction: Stanley Cup Qualifier Odds
The Maple Leafs needed a miracle, and they got it Friday night, scoring a 4-3 overtime win over the Blue Jackets.
The stage is set for first and only game five series of the qualification round. The winner advances while the loser heads home.
Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs NHL Playoff Odds
The Maple Leafs enter this elimination game as the -150 favourites in game five. The Blue Jackets number is at +125.
Stanley Cup futures wise, the Maple Leafs improved to +2000 to win the cup. Prior to game four, that number was at +3300. At the start of the post season, they were listed under 10/1 to win it all.
In all four games of this series, the first period under of 1.5 goals has hit four straight times. Will that trend continue in game five?
Columbus Blue Jackets
For 56 minutes of game four, the Blue Jackets appeared to have the game and series wrapped up. But that all changed in a hurry late in the 3rd period.
Maybe the biggest decision Head Coach John Tortoralla has ahead of him is who will start in goal Sunday night? Both Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins have played well in this series.
Pierre-Luc Dubois has three goals and an assist in the last two games. Cam Atkinson has a pair of goals in the four games. Both players will be critical to the Blue Jackets offence if they are successful on Sunday night.
A developing story for the Blue Jackets is the health of Zach Werenski. The team’s top defenceman missed the last nine minutes and the entire overtime in game four. His status is unknown at this time. His partner Seth Jones played a team high 33:11 in the loss.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The expensive Maple Leafs offence proved their worth on Friday night, but did it in the dying minutes of the game.
The team rallied to erase a three-goal deficit with three goals in 3:34 seconds to tie the critical elimination game sending it to overtime. William Nylander started the comeback, followed by John Tavares and Zach Hyman tied the game at three.
In the overtime frame the Maple Leafs outshot the Blue Jackets 14-7 when Auston Matthews potted his second of the post season, forcing a game five of the series.
Defenceman Jake Muzzin will miss game five of this series. There is hope if the Maple Leafs advance to the next round he will be ready. Morgan Rielly played the most minutes of any player on the ice, clocking in at an impressive 33:51.
CLB
TOR