Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks Prediction, NHL Odds
The Maple Leafs’ early-season struggles continued with Saturday’s 4-2 loss in Los Angeles that dumps the club to 4-4-1, and into seventh place in the Atlantic Division standings. The Ducks return home riding a seven-game slide after falling 4-0 in Vegas on Friday, and have now mustered just 10 total goals during 0-6-1 run.
The Maple Leafs have emerged as somewhat modest -186 favourites on the Sunday NHL odds, while the Ducks lag as +155 underdogs. The total is pegged at 6.5, with the OVER vaulting to a strong -136 bet to pay out.
Maple Leafs vs. Ducks NHL Betting Odds
Sunday night’s matchup at Honda Center marks the first of two scheduled meetings between these teams this season. The Maple Leafs swept their two-game series with the Ducks last season, including a decisive 5-1 win in Anaheim, and have claimed victory in seven of eight head-to-head clashes. The Toronto defence has been particularly stingy when hitting the ice in Anaheim, limiting the Ducks to just five total goals over their past four visits. However, the Leafs attack has managed to score more than three goals just once over that stretch, extending a steady 6-2-0 run for the UNDER in recent tilts between these teams in Anaheim. The Maple Leafs have also produced uneven results when playing in the second date of games played on back-to-back nights, winning just three of their past seven, with each of their four losses over that stretch coming on the road.
Toronto Maple Leafs
For the third time in as many outings, a shaky penalty kill played a huge role as the Maple leafs fell 4-2 in Los Angeles on Saturday. Hopes were raised when John Tavares gave the club an early lead for the first time in seven games by opening the scoring with a first-period power play goal. Tavares has been a steady producer on the power play, with all four of his goals this season coming with the extra man. However, things have not gone so well with the penalty kill, which surrendered a pair of second-period goals versus the Kings, and five total goals during the club’s three-game slide. Complicating matters for Toronto has been Auston Matthews’ continued scoring drought. The reigning Hart Trophy winner has failed to score at even strength in seven straight games, took multiple penalties for the first time in his NHL career in Saturday’s loss to the Kings.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks reached a new low in their disastrous start to the season with Friday’s 4-0 loss to the Golden Knights. While Anaheim managed to outshoot an opponent for the first time this season, the team made things easy for the Golden Knights by spotting them a power play goal and a shorthanded marker to open the scoring. Overall, the Ducks have now allowed surrendered five power play goals over the past three games, and now sport the league’s 31st-ranked penalty kill, and 30th-ranked power play. Not surprisingly, the club also ranks dead last with just 2.00 goals per game. Troy Terry remains one of the few bright lights on this club. The 25-year-old has cooled off since opening the season with six points in three games, but has still managed to produce a goal and two assists over his past three outings, and has racked up 19 points over his past 16 home appearances dating back to last season.
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