Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s the first meeting between these teams since Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas injured Auston Matthews, a hit that resulted in Matthews needing surgery and Gudas receiving a five-game suspension. The potential wrench in any revenge arc though is Gudas was injured when playing Calgary last Thursday and was seen in a walking boot. But Gudas is determined to play against Toronto per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. This would certainly mean Gudas will have to answer the bell against the Leafs, something they infamously didn’t make Gudas do following the Matthews hit.
Puck drop at the Honda Center goes at 10 p.m. EDT with the Ducks a -200 moneyline favourite on home ice and the total at 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Maple Leafs vs. Ducks NHL Betting Odds
Toronto’s gone 3-3-2 in eight games without their captain, which doesn’t include the 6-4 win against Anaheim on March 12 that Matthews exited. How the Maple Leafs perform down the stretch is crucial to their future too, as they’re not going to make the playoffs but have a top-five protected draft pick this season they’ve traded to Boston. Toronto enters Monday as the ninth-worst team in the NHL standings.
Anaheim’s won four of their last five as they continue to chase down top spot in the Pacific Division. As of Monday, the Ducks are -600 to win the Pacific Division. The Ducks have won 11 of their last 14 home outings but history indicates they’ll be put to the test against the Leafs, who hold a six-game win streak over Anaheim. Eight of Toronto’s last 11 visits to Anaheim have finished under the total.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto did not get off on the right foot before their annual California trip, as game one of a four-game stretch on the road begun with a 5-1 loss at St. Louis on Saturday. The Leafs were heavily outplayed in the loss and outshot 38-13. This made for another busy night for Joseph Woll, who was coming off a season-high 40-save effort in a win versus New York on Wednesday. Woll has played in eight of Toronto’s last 10 games.
With Matthews out of the lineup, 2023 first-round pick Easton Cowan continues to see his minutes increase although the production’s not there. Cowan is pointless in seven of his last eight games but is currently on the top line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. These two are the only Leafs skaters this season with 60 points, as Toronto’s plummeted down the scoring ranks and currently sit in 17th in the NHL with 3.09 goals per game.
Anaheim Ducks
Monday is a crucial game in hand for the Ducks. With 86 points Anaheim has a three-point advantage atop the Pacific Division and one game in hand over both teams chasing them, namely the Edmonton Oilers. Anaheim has not won the division since 2016–17, and have not even made the playoffs since 2017–18. Saturday’s 4-2 loss at Edmonton has made things a little more interesting as the NHL season concludes in just over two weeks.
Bennett Sennecke and Cutter Gauthier both scored in Saturday’s defeat, almost rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the third period. These kids have been a huge reason for the Ducks’ turnaround; Gauthier’s 37 goals leads the Ducks and he is up to a team-high 64 points too. Sennecke has registered points in four of his last five games and is up to 56 in his rookie season.
Expect Lukas Dostal to be in between the pipes on Monday. Dostal is 29-16-3 on the season with an .894 save percentage but has posted a save percentage of at least .900 in four of his last five starts.
