Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vancouver Canucks Prediction, NHL Odds
Vancouver is back in action for the first time since March 24 after a COVID outbreak decimated their roster. The Canucks had 22 players and four staff members test positive for the virus. They’re not getting any breaks from the schedule-makers as they’ll play 19 games in 32 days and restart their season against the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night.
Unsurprisingly, Toronto is a huge -314 favourite to win on the NHL odds with a total of 6.0.
Maple Leafs vs. Canucks Betting Analysis
Vancouver has actually held their own in this season series. The Leafs have a 3-2 edge in games won, but the Canucks took the last two meetings. The total has gone Under in 11 of the last 12 games between these teams.
Toronto is just as comfortable on the road as the are at home, picking up 14 wins each in both situations. Careful betting them to cover though, as they’re 15-29 against the spread and have only covered in three of their last 10 games. They’ve been an Under team in their last six games in Vancouver.
Even without the COVID outbreak, this has been a tough season for the Canucks, although they are .500 at home. They’re 17-20 ATS and they’ve covered in 11 of 20 games at Rogers Arena. Scoring hasn’t come easy as they’ve gone Under the total in eight of their last 11 games overall and six of their last eight home games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs could have two of their biggest offensive weapons back in the lineup on Sunday. Auston Matthews and William Nylander both practiced on Saturday and are listed as questionable against the Canucks. Matthews, who leads the NHL with 32 goals, missed a 5-2 home loss to Winnipeg on Thursday with an upper-body injury, although it’s not considered serious. Nylander has been in the NHL’s COVID protocol and hasn’t played since a 5-3 win in Calgary on April 5. The Swede has skated for two straight days and has 30 points (13G, 17A) in 39 games. Jack Campbell, who has lost his last two starts after beginning the season with an NHL-record 11 straight wins, will start on Sunday. Campbell has a 2.19 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and has two shutouts on the year.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver is going to have a tough test in their first game action in almost a month. The Canucks had nine games postponed due to the break and will now be forced to play a mammoth schedule of 19 games over the next month. Sitting 10 points back of Montreal for the final playoff spot in the North Division, Vancouver is likely more concerned with their players health than making a last ditch run for the post season. Starting the week with 19 players still unavailable due to COVID concerns last Sunday, the Canucks have seen that number drop to just two as of Friday: forward Jake Virtanen and defenceman Nate Schmidt. The Leafs game on Sunday is the first of a four-game homestand Vancouver will play over the next six days.