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Andrew Rogers
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Arizona Coyotes: Odds, Prediction
Toronto has dropped four of six but is coming off a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers, and has had four days of rest heading into a meeting with a Cootes team that will be playing the finale of a back-to-back after defeating visiting Colorado 3-1 Wednesday night.
Maple Leafs vs Coyotes Betting Analysis
The host Coyotes are hefty underdogs in this one – and with good reason, as Arizona’s victory over Colorado on Wednesday was just its fourth in 17 games at Gila River Arena. The Coyotes have also struggled against the Atlantic, winning just four of its previous 16 games vs. teams from the division. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have made the most of longer layoffs, winning each of their previous four contests on three or more days of rest.
An incredible 97 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are siding with the Maple Leafs in this one, while 83 percent are leaning toward the under on the six-goal number. Toronto has an incredible totals streak going, having played under the total in 17 of its last 21 games against Pacific Division foes. Don’t be surprised to see that streak continue, with the woeful Coyotes having gone under in 20 of their last 26 contests overall.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews will look to invigorate an offence that still ranks fifth overall in goals per game (3.2) but ranks a dismal 26th out of 31 teams so far in December (2.3). The goaltending has kept the Maple Leafs afloat this month, with only four teams allowing fewer goals per game than Toronto (2.2). Things haven’t gone so well for Toronto in recent visits to Arizona; it has just two wins in its last seven trips, but did prevail 4-1 last season in Matthews’ first game there as an NHLer.
Arizona Coyotes
Goal scoring continues to be a significant problem for the Coyotes, who have just 22 goals in 11 December games – the fewest in the NHL over that span. Only the Buffalo Sabres have scored fewer goals for the season than the Coyotes, who are struggling to get anything from any forward not named Clayton Keller. The sensational rookie leads the team in goals (13) and points (30); no other Coyotes player has more than eight goals or 22 points.
