Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction, NHL Odds
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Edgar Chaput
Toronto and New Jersey are separated by only four points in the conference standings. Moreover, the Devils need only two points to tie the Central Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes.
The Devils are awarded -133 favourite status on the moneyline as per the NHL odds (+182 on the puck line). The over-under is established at 6.5 goals.
Maple Leafs vs. Devils NHL Betting Odds
Sheldon Keefe’s Torontonian ensemble has been quite comfortable when dancing with the Devils since last season. The Ontario squad is 4-1 in its five most recent tilts, including a 2-1 win as guests back in November. Two statistics stand out. First, no home team has won so far this season (the Devils defeated the Leafs in Toronto also in November). Second, neither game saw more than five goals scored, making the under on the 6.5 total rather tempting.
The pit stop in Jersey concludes a five-game road trip that has seen equal highs and lows. A win in Seattle was followed by a thumping at the hands of the Oilers. Extinguishing the Flames preceded a flattening by the Canucks. Toronto can always depend on solid defence and goaltending, as they rank fifth league-wide with respect to goals conceded per outing (2.64).
Conversely, Lindy Ruff’s Devils are flaming hot on the attack, as they score 3.58 goals per tilt, good for fourth in the NHL. They’ve been a little bit more consistent than their opposite number since last week, earning themselves four wins in their last five contests. The only defeat was on the road to a strong Las Vegas outfit. Goaltending has been worrisome. Regardless of victory or defeat, New Jersey has conceded at least four goals in three straight games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto will be happy to finish this road swing. The trip hasn’t always been joyful, as evidenced Saturday night in Vancouver, but at least the Leafs get to rest until Saturday.
Was it overconfidence? Were the Maple Leafs just a bit off? Maybe it was a mixture of both because losing 4-1 to the lowly Canucks was not only unexpected but hindered their chance at finishing in the top three in the Eastern Conference. Saturday was all about special teams. John Tavares (28th) earned his side’s lone goal of the evening on the powerplay in the final period via some slick passing around the Vancouver net. However, the Canucks had tricks up their sleeve whether they were up or down a player. Andrei Kuzmenko netted in the first period on the man advantage before J.T. Miller and Elias Petterssen netted whilst killing the same penalty in the final frame. Toronto outshot the hosts by a wide margin, 37-24, but for once the Canucks had solid goaltending from Thatcher Demko. Leafs lose, 4-1.
New Jersey Devils
As for the Devils, their last game was a bit too close for comfort given the opposition and how the contest had begun.
Their road trip concluded in the desert versus the Arizona Coyotes. Timo Meier (32nd) continued to make the organization feel like they made the right decision by trading for him by scoring in the first period. Jesper Boqvist had himself a night by netting a brace (sixth and seventh), scoring in the first and again the middle frame. His marker made it 4-2, which, against the Coyotes, should have been sufficient to carry them through. But as alluded to, the Devils haven’t been great defensively in recent games. The desert dogs clawed their way back, capped by the game-tying goal from Jack McBain (ninth) with only two minutes left. New Jersey would eventually earn the win through Nico Hischier’s overtime score on a two-on-one. Devils win 5-4.
