Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, NHL Odds
There’s always a spark when the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from the 2016 draft, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine, come face-to-face. Both guys scored in their Feb. 22 matchup, but Laine had the last laugh sniping the overtime winner.
The Leafs and Jackets are both looking to snap their current two-game losing skids. The Maple Leafs are -211 favourites to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5.
Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets NHL Betting Odds
Monday will be the third and final game of this season series and so far, each team has won once at home. Just two weeks ago in Columbus, the Blue Jackets edged the Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime on Laine’s game-winner. Early on, 68 per cent of the bettors have Toronto taking Monday night’s rubber match.
The Blue Jackets are riding a 5-0 streak ATS versus the Leafs dating back to the playoff bubble in 2020. That stretch had high-scoring games with the Over going 3-1-1. Monday’s total of 6.5 has people split 60-40 on the Over/Under bets.
The Leafs have been on the wrong side of back-to-back upsets, giving them two more losses ATS which drops them to 23-32 ATS this season. Columbus has been much more successful against the spread, boasting a 32-24 record, including seven covers in their past 10 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews regained the goal scoring lead with his 38th and 39th snipes of the season in Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Canucks. Toronto held a 4-3 lead to open the third period before giving up three consecutive goals to blow it.
Jack Campbell stopped 23 of 28 shots in net as his numbers have dropped heavily over his past four games. Over those four games, Campbell’s goals-against average is a combined 5.25, his save percentage .836 and he has not picked up a win.
The Leafs will have to have a quick turnaround after this one, as they host the Seattle Kraken Tuesday night.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets have suffered back-to-back losses in extra time coming into Monday after Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the Bruins. Jakub Voracek’s third of the year tied the game 4-4 with just three seconds left to force the extra time.
Laine picked up two assists in the game, bringing him to 41 points (21G, 20A) through 37 games. He’s been picking up steam with 14 points in the past 10 games just as he meets one of his favourite opponents. In nine career games versus Toronto, Laine has scored eight goals and has one assist.
Columbus is next in action Thursday in New York against the Islanders.
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