New Jersey Devils vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
Winners of three straight, the Toronto Maple Leafs are set to return to the ice Monday night to host a New Jersey Devils team riding a four-game losing streak, in the fist game of a home-and-home. The Leafs used a five-goal third period comeback to down Detroit 7-4 on the road on Saturday, while the Devils fell 2-1 in Carolina.
Toronto is a -353 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.
Devils vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
The Maple Leafs have won the last five games in this head-to-head series, although this is the first meeting between the teams in two years. Roughly 90 per cent of early betting action is backing Toronto, while the Over/Under is about a 50/50 split.
New Jersey sits at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings for a reason. The Devils have dropped five straight games on the road and seven of their last eight overall. They’re 21-22 against the spread for the season, including 10-10 ATS on the road. The total has gone Under in five of the Devils’ last seven games.
Toronto will be happy to be back at home where they’ve won six of their last seven games. They haven’t been a great cover option this year, however, as they’re 16-24 ATS overall and just 7-13 ATS at home. The total has gone Over in four of the Leafs’ last five games.
New Jersey Devils
New Jersey failed to come through when it mattered most on Saturday. Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Devils managed just three shots in the final frame. Jesper Boqvist’s first goal of the season was the only puck to find the back of the net for New Jersey in the game, while Jon Gillies made 21 saves on 23 shots. Jesper Bratt, who leads the team in both goals (14) and points (39), was held off the scoresheet. It marked the end of a five-game point streak for Bratt and Jack Hughes. Saturday wasn’t the first blown opportunity for the Devils lately, as five of their last seven losses have come by a single goal.
With a .924 save percentage over his last four games, Gillies will likely get a sixth straight start in net on Monday. Gillies has posted a 1-5-0 record this season with a 2.94 goals-against average and .904 SV. Defenceman Dougie Hamilton is getting closer to a return from a broken jaw suffered in early January, but he won’t be back for this game. In his first season with the Devils, Hamilton has recorded 20 points (7G, 13A) in 30 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Michael Bunting finished off a hat-trick to start the third period on Saturday, sparking a five-goal Toronto barrage that led to a third straight win for the Leafs. Pierre Engvall, Rasmus Sandin, Mitch Marner and John Tavares also picked up goals, while Auston Matthews, Alexander Kerfoot and David Kampf each had two assists. Petr Mrazek stopped 31 of 35 shots. Matthews continues to be the biggest piece of the Leafs offence. Last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy winner leads the team with 45 points and his 25 goals is fifth-most in the NHL.
With this game being the first of a home-and-home over back-to-back nights, Jack Campbell will likely get the start tonight and Mrazek should go tomorrow. Campbell has taken the reigns as Toronto’s No. 1 goalie this year, compiling a 20-6-3 record. Among goalies with at least six games played, Campbell sits eighth in GAA (2.26), seventh in SV (.926) and second in shutouts (4).
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