Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Calgary Flames Prediction, NHL Odds
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to bounce back Thursday in Calgary after receiving a 5-2 pounding in Edmonton on Wednesday.
The Flames are looking to shake a three-game skid tonight, as their playoff hopes continue to dwindle, five points back of the final wild-card spot in the west.
The Maple Leafs boast a 4-3-1 record when playing in the second half of a back-to-back so far this season. Toronto will be a slight favourite to win at -115 on the NHL odds with the total sitting at the usual 6.5.
Maple Leafs vs. Flames NHL Betting Odds
This will be the second and final meeting of the season between the Flames and Leafs after a 5-4 Toronto win back in December. The big guns were firing for the Leafs in that one as William Nylander had five points (2G 3A), Auston Matthews had three (1G 2A) and Mitch Marner had two (1G 1A) including the overtime game-winner.
This series has hit the Over in the past two meetings. Looking back further, the Leafs have beaten Calgary in eight of the past 12 matchups dating back to the 2020-21 season’s all-Canadian division.
With two of the league’s top offensive teams facing off last night between the Leafs and Oilers, the total was set at 7.0 goals. The game ended with a push, making it three games in a row to not hit the Over. Toronto’s record on the total is now 26-32-3 on the year and they have an almost identical record against the spread at 26-35 ATS.
The Flames played the Over again in their most recent matchup with the Bruins, making it the seventh time in their past 10 games to go that way. They have a 31-29-1 record against the total while averaging 3.1 goals for and 3.1 goals against per game. They covered the spread in three of their past four games, despite putting up a 1-2-1 record in that span.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Oilers’ star power was too much for the Leafs last night, as they fell behind 5-1 before the start of the third period. Mitch Marner set up David Kampf for Toronto’s first goal of the game and Marner would add a power-play goal in the third for a two-point game. Ilya Samsonov got the start in net and stopped 27 of 32 shots, as the Leafs saw their win streak stopped at three.
GM Kyle Dubas has been extremely busy heading up to the trade deadline, picking up Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari, Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, Luke Schenn and Erik Gustafsson. McCabe and Lafferty made their Leafs debut last night and each got on the score sheet with a minor penalty. McCabe also registered two shots and two hits in 20:59 of play, while Lafferty had a shot in 11:56.
Joseph Woll will likely start tonight in Calgary and Gustafsson could make his debut on the blue line as well.
Calgary Flames
Despite outshooting the Bruins 54-20 on Tuesday night, the Flames lost in 4-3 overtime, allowing a goal with only five seconds to go in the extra frame and losing their third game in a row. Calgary was down 2-0 after the first period but clawed their way back with three consecutive goals to go up 3-2 midway through the third. Jonathan Huberdeau (12), Blake Coleman (13) and Dillon Dube (17) did the goal-scoring. Tyler Toffoli had an assist, increasing his team lead in points to 54 (25G 28A).
Dan Vladar got the start in the net but was pulled after the first period after allowing two goals on just five shots.
The Flames have yet to make a move heading into the deadline on Friday afternoon because they are likely unsure if they should buy or sell. After underachieving all season they currently sit five points out of the final wild-card spot in the west, putting themselves in a wait-and-see situation.
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