Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils: NHL Odds, Prediction
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Andrew Rogers
Two points over their final two games will put the Devils in the Eastern Conference postseason picture no matter what the Florida Panthers do – and New Jersey is expected to prevail in this one against a Maple Leafs team that might take the opportunity to rest players with third spot in the Atlantic Division wrapped up.
Maple Leafs vs. Devils Betting Analysis
The Devils are red-hot at the right time, having won three consecutive games to occupy the first wild-card spot in the East. New Jersey has also prevailed in five of its last six games against conference opponents, and is 5-2 SU in its last seven games following a victory. The Maple Leafs are eyeing a series victory after dropping a 6-3 decision in their first head-to-head meeting Oct. 11 and bouncing back with a 1-0 overtime victory just over a month later.
From a totals standpoint, the Devils have surpassed the total in six of their previous eight games, and are 5-2 O/U in their last seven NHL matchups against Eastern Conference foes. Toronto has been an even better over option of late, going above the number in 15 of their previous 19 games overall despite just three of those games boasting a total below six. There have been seven or more goals scored in each of Toronto’s past six road games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
If the Toronto power play performs in the postseason anywhere near how it did in March, this team will be incredibly difficult to beat. The Maple Leafs made good on 14 of 32 man advantage opportunities for the month, good for a 43.8-percent success rate that easily led the league; it was also the highest mark posted in any month by any team this season. That performance has raised the Leafs’ PP percentage on the season to 24.3 percent, second-best in the NHL.
New Jersey Devils
Toronto isn’t the only team excelling on special teams heading into the final few days of the regular season. The Devils rank in the top 10 in both power play (21.7 percent, ninth) and penalty kill (81.9 percent, seventh), and that special teams success is a big reason they’ve won nine of their past 12 games. But be warned: New Jersey has just 18 wins in its last 55 instances where it’s wrapping up a stretch of three games in four nights.
