Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds
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Nik Kowalski
The Toronto Maple Leafs are atop the NHL with a 6-2 record and it’s in large part due to allowing only 13 goals over their past six games. Toronto’s riding a three-game win streak as well, after kicking off their four-game road trip with a pair of wins in Calgary.
The Edmonton Oilers have been drifting in the opposite direction. At 3-5, the Oilers have just two wins in their last six games and a single win on home ice in 2021. This is all with Connor McDavid (first) and Leon Draisaitl (fourth) as top 5 NHL scorers.
Puck drop at Rogers Place is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.
Maple Leafs vs. Oilers Betting Analysis
It’s the third of nine meetings between Toronto and Edmonton, after a combined 10 goals were scored when they first went head-to-head, last week. The Oilers won the first contest 3-1, while Toronto got even in the latter match, winning 4-2. Toronto’s opened as a -126 moneyline road favourite on the NHL odds, while the total’s set at 6.5.
Edmonton’s going through a brutal stretch, losing eight of their last 10 against Toronto and 10 of their last 14 overall. The Oilers are averaging 2.88 goals per game in 2021, and their defence isn’t any better, allowing 3.63 goals against per game. All signs point toward the Leafs Thursday.
Toronto Maple Leafs
With five goals and seven assists in eight games Mitchell Marner’s had a fantastic start to the year. Marner’s currently tied for first in NHL points with none other than McDavid. Through eight games Toronto’s power play is operating at a ridiculous 41.7 per cent. It’s helped that Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares all hover near a point per game pace.
The Leafs are getting contributions throughout the roster too. Thirteen players have hit twine, including Wayne Simmonds, who’s now on the board as a Leaf with goals in back-to-back outings.
Their one concern would be Frederik Andersen’s .895 save percentage in six games. If this holds, Andersen’s save percentage will have declined in three straight seasons — not ideal for a 31-year-old pending unrestricted free agent.
Edmonton Oilers
What would the Oilers do without McDavid and Draisaitl? The duo has 15 points in Edmonton’s three wins, one of which came on a buzzer-beating goal by Draisaitl from a McDavid feed.
The Oilers have five skaters above two points on the season, and those five have at least six or more points. Edmonton’s a top-heavy team with subpar goaltending via just one netminder. Mikko Koskinen’s started all eight of Edmonton’s games despite his .899 save percentage.
To make matters worse, the Oilers’ current healthy backup goalies have a combined two NHL games played. Koskinen’s workload won’t get any lighter, and it’s not like he’s stealing Edmonton games.
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