Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings Prediction, NHL Odds
The Toronto Maple Leafs look to build on a decisive 5-2 season-opening win over the Montreal Canadiens when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night in NHL betting action.
Overall, the Leafs have won 10 of 11 in regular season play, and sported the NHL’s second-best road record last season.
The Red Wings look to bounce back after suffering a 5-1 loss to the Habs in their home opener on Thursday night, extending a woeful run in home games played during the month of October that has produced just two wins in eight games.
The Maple Leafs make the short trip to the Motor City perched as -150 favourites on the Saturday NHL odds. The Red Wings trail as +155 underdogs and the total is listed at 6.0.
Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings NHL Betting Odds
The Maple Leafs held the upper hand in head-to-head play last season, taking three of four from the Red Wings, capped by a 4-3 overtime win at Scotiabank Arena on April 17. Overall, the Leafs have topped the Red Wings in 13 of 18 clashes since the start of the 2019/2020 season but have posted wins in just two of their past four visits to Detroit. However, Toronto emerged as a reliable bet on the road last season. The club trailed only Winnipeg with 25 away victories, and closed out their campaign on a 5-1-0 run on the road while allowing just 10 total goals.
Pegged as a distant +270 bet on the NHL futures to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the Red Wings are looking to improve on their 86-point champaign last season, but have opened the season with the OVER/UNDER on their regular season point total pegged at just 83.5. However, the Red Wings’ 22 home wins trailed only Columbus, Buffalo, and Calgary among teams that failed to reach the postseason.
Toronto Maple Leafs
William Nylander led the charge in Toronto’s schedule-opening victory over Montreal on Wednesday night, scoring once and adding two assists. The hot start is welcome news for the talented Swede, who led the club with 45 goals last season and reached 80 points in each of the past four seasons. However, Nylander has struggled to light the lamp against the Red Wings, scoring just once in has past 10 appearances versus Detroit but has picked up at least a point in six of his past eight trips to Little Caesars Arena.
Bobby McMann and John Tavares benefited from lining up alongside Nylander on Wednesday. McMann opened the scoring while Tavares recorded a pair of helpers. However, it was a quiet season debut for team captain Auston Matthews, whose lone shot in the contest came on an empty net goal in the dying seconds. However, Matthews has been a regular contributor when facing the Red Wings, scoring in each of his past three appearances, and has piled up three goals and six assists over his past five trips to Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings stormed to an early 1-0 lead in Thursday’s visit from the Habs, but were unable to solve Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes the rest of the way despite outshooting the Canadiens by a 31-17 margin. Indeed, it was a dismal Motown debut for recently acquired goaltender John Gibson, who turned aside just eight of the 13 shots he faced before getting pulled in favour of Cam Talbot.
The Red Wings certainly had their chances, with Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Moritz Seider each recording five shots on goal, resulting in just one goal. Despite his shaky start, reports indicate that Gibson will once again between the pipes on Saturday. The veteran netminder has previously faced the Leafs on 11 occasions, earning just victories over that stretch, and was lit up for five goals on just nine shots in his most recent date with the Leafs, a 9-2 loss at Scotiabank Arena as a member of the Anaheim Ducks in February 2024.
