Vegas Golden Knights vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
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Edgar Chaput
Toronto has kicked its game into high gear since the All-Star break. Their septet of wins has come against some serious opponents for that matter. One such victim was the Vegas Golden Knights last week in Nevada, 7-3. The latter have fallen thrice in a row. Consequently, their chances of winning the Pacific Division are beginning to slip.
The host Leafs are pegged as favourites on the NHL odds’ moneyline, priced at -145.
Golden Knights vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
Sheldon Keefe’s side has an opportunity to return the favour Vegas did to them last season when it swept the Leafs. Toronto strolled into Vegas last week and dethroned the Knights 7-3 in an excellent display of hockey superiority. A win tonight would make it 2-0 for Toronto against the defending champs in the regular season.
Vegas is among the healthier teams in the NHL right now, so all they need to do is play their game and they should be fine. Easier said than done, apparently. The Knights have lost three in a row, including the demolition derby suffered at the hands of the Leafs. More alarming is that they’ve lost five of six with the only success coming versus the adrift Sharks. They’re 28-30 ATS for the year.
Good news for betters who desperately want to place props on Toronto. The Maple Leafs have covered five straight spreads and six of their past seven. Truth be told, that’s a great run when considering the club is only 21-34 on the season. The over has also connected in five of the side’s six most recent contests. Toronto is scoring like mad these days. They’ve netted at least four games in every one of those seven games.
Vegas Golden Knights
In a testament to how rocky things have been recently for Vegas, the team was the underdog on Saturday for their road game against the Ottawa Senators. It’s not like Ottawa is lighting up the league either.
Even though the Golden Knights covered the spread, they still lost the game, which ultimately didn’t help their real cause. Even more frustrating was that the contest began swimmingly for the visitors, who took a 2-0 lead in the middle frame with goals from Jonathan Marchessault (20th) and Chandler Stephenson (11th, power play). But from that point on the Senators pushed their opponents to the limit, coming back to claim a 3-2 third-period advantage before Stephenson (12th) scored again with 1:15 left in regulation. Ottawa would net the only goal in the subsequent shootout after largely outplaying the Knights in overtime. Make the final a 4-3 defeat. It’s getting to the point where questions require answer in Nevada.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Tuesday’s contest will be yet another great test for the Maple Leafs. It’s often said that the first home game after an extended road trip can be tricky. Well, Toronto is on a superb winning streak and the team they host is one they pounded less than seven days ago.
The latest example of how well Toronto is playing came on Saturday night against the Colorado Avalanche. It wasn’t just that they downed the Avs. They did so on the road and after falling into a 2-0 deficit. Tyler Bertuzzi (eighth on the power play, ninth) and Mitchell Marner (23rd) turned the tide for a 3-2 lead. Just when it looked as if Colorado had reclaimed momentum with an early third-period marker, Bertuzzi came through yet again (10th, power play) with less than three to play for the 4-3 win. A comeback against a great club. This could be the signature win of the season. Knowing what tends to happen to Toronto down the stretch…will it be a signature moment?
Auston Matthews didn’t score on Saturday. Given his track record (52 goals, NHL leader), that suggests it’s time for a bounce-back performance.
