Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction, NHL Odds
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Nik Kowalski
The good news about this back-to-back spot is it provides Toronto with as little time as possible to think about yesterday’s loss — a 1-0 defeat to rival Montreal where the Leafs put up 48 shots to no avail. Anthony Stolarz made his Leafs debut in net yesterday and could go again at New Jersey with Joseph Woll experiencing lower-body tightness. Since Woll is out Thursday, if Stolarz is unavailable to start back-to-back nights, 23-year-old Dennis Hildeby would make his first NHL appearance. But none of this matters if Toronto can’t light the lamp.
Puck drop at the Prudential Center goes at 7 p.m. EDT with the Devils a -140 moneyline favourite on home ice and the total at 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Maple Leafs vs. Devils NHL Betting Odds
Despite the tough situation of a road back-to-back, the Leafs should be feeling themselves headed into New Jersey. That’s because Toronto is a perfect 7-0 in their last seven trips to New Jersey. The Leafs have found success putting pucks in the back of the net versus the Devils too with 4.4 goals per outing in their last 10 meetings with New Jersey.
Last season Toronto finished with more road wins than home wins, and New Jersey fewer home wins than road wins. It’s the opposite of what’d you typically expect given home ice advantage. But with Toronto travelling overnight to a rested New Jersey team, there’s all the home ice advantage you should need.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The sky isn’t falling, yet. Joseph Woll’s injury announcement started Toronto off on the wrong foot, but the bigger problem was the inability to find the back of the net after 48 shots on goal in Montreal. Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews finished tied atop Leafs skaters with six shots apiece. Matthews especially had some good looks but to no avail. Toronto’s discipline interrupted some rhythm too, as they took five minors in the first two periods — something that put line combinations out of whack and disrupted the flow of line rotations.
The looming decision for head coach Craig Berube on whether he goes back to Anthony Stolarz, a 30-year-old with 108 NHL games, or 23-year-old Dennis Hildeby without any NHL experience is big given Toronto is up against what’s supposed to be a high-flying New Jersey squad.
New Jersey Devils
The revamping of the goaltending position was arguably the biggest need for the Devils and after their season-opening Global Series in Germany… so far so good. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen both got starts in New Jersey’s two wins over Buffalo last week, and each allowed a single goal. Markstrom’s projected to be the starter moving Thursday against Toronto.
New Jersey addressed their forward depth in free agency too, adding Stefan Noesen and Paul Cotter from Carolina and Vegas respectively. Playing on the fourth line, Cotter scored in each game last week while Noesen chipped in with a goal and an assist… so far so good.
If this Devils squad can stay healthy, the task at hand for head coach Sheldon Keefe is to get this New Jersey team back to the top of the Metropolitan Division. Facing off Toronto will provide a good measurement to how realistic this aspiration is.
