Carolina Hurricanes vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s the front end of a back-to-back for the Maple Leafs on Friday night ahead of a two-game trip as they host the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes, who are -220 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
At this point, all Toronto can do is play spoiler in this hugely disappointing season that likely leads the many off-season changes. The Leafs won’t be eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention with another loss Thursday, but sitting third-last in the Eastern Conference it’s only a matter of time.
Carolina should win the Metro Division but is aiming for the top seed in the East and is neck-and-neck with Atlantic Division leader Buffalo for that spot – winning the Presidents’ Trophy is not impossible but unlikely with the West’s Colorado holding a solid points lead for that. Tampa Bay, sitting second in the Atlantic, is the current +185 East favourite, but Carolina is right behind at +200.
This concludes the season series and the winner claims it as the Hurricanes prevailed 5-4 at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 9 but were upset in Raleigh, 5-1 on Dec. 4. Matthew Knies (1G, 3A) leads Toronto with four points in the series, while out-for-the-season Auston Matthews (2G, 1A) and traded Bobby McMann (2G, 1A) each have three. Joseph Woll won his start in net and Dennis Hildeby lost his. A handful of players lead Carolina with two points in the series. Brandon Bussi won his start in net and former Maple Leaf Frederik Andersen lost his.
Overall, Carolina is 6-4 in the past 10 meetings, and the over-under is also 6-4.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina has alternated wins and losses over its past seven following a wild 6-5 OT home win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The clubs combined for four game-tying goals in the third period, which matched the most in a single game in NHL history. No Canadian teams have been involved in those. Sean Walker’s seventh goal of the season at 4:31 of OT was the winner, his first career OT winner, and Sebastian Aho collected one of the assists to become the third player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record 700 points. He also became the fifth-fastest Finnish player to 700 career points. Forward Jackson Blake scored his 20th goal of the season, giving the Canes five 20-goal scorers, more than any other club in the NHL. Frederik Andersen stopped 30 of 35 shots to pick up his fourth straight win, but that means it should be Brandon Bussi on Friday. Bussi is 2-3-0 in his past five and has allowed at least four goals in four of those five. Away this year, he’s 9-4-0 with a 2.69 GAA. Carolina is 7-0 in its past seven vs. Atlantic Division foes.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto lost for the 10th time in 12 games Tuesday, 3-1 at home to the Islanders. The Maple Leafs’ usually good penalty kill, which ranks fourth in the league at 83 per cent, allowed two New York power-play goals and Toronto went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. The Leafs’ lone goal was at 4:40 of the second via Steven Lorentz, his seventh of the year to cut the New York lead to 2-1. It was his first goal in 30 games. Blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson was iffy after the birth of his child but played a team-high 25:53 and had three shots and two hits. Fellow defenceman Morgan Rielly (33 points) is questionable Friday dealing with the flu. Joseph Woll was in net Tuesday and probably will be Friday. He is 1-5-1 in seven outings since the Olympic break with an .893 SV. Woll is 8-5-2 with a 3.25 GAA overall at home this season. Toronto is 1-9 in its past 10 on home ice.
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