Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, NHL Odds
The Maple Leafs have been idle since falling 5-2 to the visiting Boston Bruins on February 1, and have now fallen to defeat in three of their past six overall contests. The Blue Jackets resume their schedule after enjoying a 10-day layoff over the NHL All-Star Break aiming to snap a three-game overall losing streak, and have claimed victory in just one of their past five home contests.
The Maple Leafs have vaulted to heavy -262 road favourites since opening as a -250 bet on the Friday NHL odds, and enjoy the backing of 87% of sports bettors. The Blue Jackets have tumbled to lengthy +217 underdogs, and the total remains unchanged since opening at 6.5. However, the odds of the total going OVER have shortened to -120.
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets NHL Betting Odds
Friday night’s matchup at Nationwide Arena marks the first of three meetings between these teams this season, and also the first date of a home-and-home series between these clubs that wraps up with clash at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night. The Maple Leafs earned a pair of wins in a trio of head-to-head contests last season, all decided by a single goal, and capped by a 5-4 Leafs win in Columbus on March 7. Overall, the Leafs have taken six of nine from the Blue Jackets in regular season action, including victories in three of their past four trips to Columbus. The past four matchups between these clubs have all produced at least seven total goals, fueling a 3-0-1 run for the OVER.
*Current odds can be found on the right hand side under Current Odds.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The recent layoff was timely for the Leafs, who have been plagued by injuries to key personnel. Sidelined since January 25 by a knee injury, Auston Matthews raised the hopes of Leafs Nation by returning to practice on Thursday, but is not expected to return to game action until at least next week. Other players still on the shelf include rearguards TJ Brodie and Jake Muzzin, as well as netminder Matt Murray, who went back on the IR on Thursday with an ankle injury. That sets the stage for Ilya Samsonov to get the start between the pipes on Friday night. Samsonov has enjoyed a resurgence this season while compiling an impressive 17-6-0 record and two shutouts. However, he struggled just before the All-Star Break, surrendering five goals on just 29 shots in the team’s recent loss to Boston, and was also rocked for six goals on just 34 shots in a 6-2 loss to Ottawa just five nights earlier.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets return from the NHL All-Star Break with nowhere to go but up. Currently buries in last place in the NHL league standings, Columbus has mustered just five wins in 24 contests since December 11 including just three victories in their past nine home dates. In addition to occupying the basement in the standings, the Blue Jackets also rank 30th in the league on both offence and defence, scoring just 2.45 goals per game while allowing an average of 3.84 goals per game. Columbus has also been racked by injuries that have claimed the likes of Zach Werenski, Jake Bean, and Jakub Voracek, and would benefit from greater scoring production from their two biggest stars. Leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau has potted just three goals over his past 14 games, while sniper Patrik Laine has scored just once in his past eight home appearances.
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