Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Seattle Kraken Prediction, NHL Odds
The Toronto Maple Leafs search for an end to a five-game losing streak that has dumped them to the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings when they visit the Seattle Kraken in the opening date of a crucial six-game road trip on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Maple Leafs hit the road after getting swept on a five-game home stand, and have now lost seven of eight overall, capped by Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to Buffalo.
The Kraken wrap up a six-game home stand rising a two-game win streak after rolling to a decisive 6-1 win over Washington on Tuesday, but have failed to win three straight on home ice since their first three home dates of the season.
Thursday’s matchup is pegged as a pick ’em on the NHL odds, with both the Leafs sporting -110 moneyline odds, and the total is listed at 6.5.
Maple Leafs vs. Kraken NHL Betting Odds
The Kraken eked out a 4-3 victory when t they visited Toronto back on October 18, but have otherwise struggled when facing the Leafs, losing seven of their previous eight matchups including four all-time clashes in Seattle.
The Kraken have scored just five total goals in their four home dates with the Leafs and averaged just 2.44 goals per game all-time when battling the Buds. That lack of production has helped sustain a 5-2 run for the UNDER in totals betting.
However, the Kraken has filled the net while winning three of four overall, scoring at least four times in each of those victories, and have averaged 3.70 goals per game while winning six of 10 at home, all by multi-goal margins.
After flirting with a return to playoff contention, the Leafs have taken a huge step back, allowing five goals per game during a brutal 1-5-2 run that leaves them eight points out of a playoff spot as they embark on an epic road trip, and a stretch run that will see them play 19 of their final 29 games away from Scotiabank Arena.
A fixture at or near the top of the Stanley Cup odds for the better part of a decade, the Maple Leafs are now +375 longshots to make the playoffs, and must quickly find a way to snap out of a middling 3-4-3 run on the road if they are to salvage this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs
It would be easy to blame the Leafs goaltending trio of Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz, and Dennis Hildeby for the club’s atrocious play of late. However, the truth of the matter is that Toronto goaltenders have been largely to fend for themselves while facing an average of 35.2 shots per game over the past nine contests, and have been lit up for at least 30 shots in 16 of the past 20 games.
Matters have not been helped by a porous penalty kill that has performed at just 67 per cent efficiency over that span while Leafs shooters have mustered just 2.89 goals per game over that stretch.
William Nylander is hopeful to return from injury sometime during this road trip. The slick Swede has missed six games, and the club looks lost without him. Auston Matthews went pointless in three games before tallying a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s debacle versus Buffalo.
John Tavares has mustered just three points in the past six games and just three points in six road games this month, and Matthew Knies has scored just twice in 14 January outings. One positive has come in the form of Bobby McMann, who has scored twice and added two helpers during a four-game tear and now ranks third on the club with 17 goals.
Seattle Kraken
Now in a three-way tie with San Jose and Los Angeles in the race for the second wild card in the West after posting back-to-back wins, the Kraken will be highly motivated on Thursday night.
The club has outgunned opponents by a 9-3 combined margin during their 2-0-0 run, and on Tuesday night, it was Jared McCann’s turn to lead the way with two goals and two assists in a 5-1 rout of the Capitals. McCann has now compiled four goals and seven points over his past four games, and with at least a point in nine of 11 home appearances, the 29-year-old is a solid -125 bet to pick up at least one point on Thursday.
Veteran Jordan Eberle is coming off consecutive two-point outings and has cracked the scoresheet in 12 of 14 home appearances. Conversely, playmaking defenceman Vince Dunn is mired in a three-game points drought after recording multiple points in three of his previous four home dates.
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