The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the hottest teams in the NHL at the moment and they bring a five-game win streak into Minnesota on Saturday.  The Wild are no pushover, however, as they’re also riding a five-game win streak.  The Leafs have been off since pounding Colorado 8-3 at home on Wednesday.  The Wild were last in action on Thursday when they took out the Devils 5-2 in Minnesota.

Toronto is a slim -120 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.

Maple Leafs vs. Wild NHL Betting Odds

These teams are meeting for the first time in two years, with the Maple Leafs sweeping the last season series and the total going Under in both games.  It’s a close split among Sports Interaction bettors for this one, with about 60 per cent of action backing the Leafs.  The total is more definitive with about 80 per cent of bettors taking the Over.

Toronto has been absolutely dominant for the last month.  The Leafs have won 10 of their last 11 games overall and they have a chance to set a new franchise record on Saturday with their eighth consecutive road win.  They haven’t been a great cover option though, going 10-14 against the spread overall and 5-5 ATS on the road.  The total has gone Under in six of Toronto’s 10 road games this season and seven of their last eight games in Minnesota.

The Wild have taken advantage of home ice this year, winning nine of 11 games at Xcel Energy Center.  They’re 12-11 ATS overall, covering six times at home.  High scoring games have been a theme for Minnesota.  The total has gone Over in five consecutive home games for the Wild and seven of their last eight games overall.

Toronto Maple Leafs

With a franchise that’s over 100 years old, it says something that Toronto is coming off the best month of November in team history with a 12-2 record.  All the big stars came to play in the blowout win against the Avalanche.  Auston Matthews scored a hat-trick, while John Tavares (1G, 2A) and Michael Bunting (3A) each had three-point nights.  William Nylander had a goal and an assist and Mitch Marner added two highlight reel helpers.  Jack Campbell stopped 28 of 31 shots faced.  Tavares leads the team with 25 points (11G, 14A), while Matthews has 22 points and a team-high 13 goals.

The biggest turnaround for the Leafs this season has been on the defensive side of the puck.  Toronto ranks second in goals-against per game (2.17).  Campbell has been a big part of that success as he has established himself as a true No. 1 goalie.  He’s had a heavy workload, going 13-4-1 with three shutouts.  Among goalies with at least three games played, Campbell ranks third in goals-against average (1.72) and second in save percentage (.943).

Ondrej Kase (upper-body) will not play against Minnesota.

Minnesota Wild

Kirill Kaprizov (2G, 1A) and Ryan Hartman (1G, 2A) each had three-point nights to lead Minnesota to a fifth consecutive win on Thursday.  Rem Pitlick and Dmitry Kulikov also found the back of the net, while Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 27 of 29 shots.  Kaprizov, last year’s Calder Trophy winner, has been just as strong in his second NHL season and leads the team with 28 points (9G, 19A).  The Russia winger is fifth in league scoring and has 22 points in 15 games since Nov. 2, just four behind NHL leader Leon Draisaitl during that span.  Hartman is the second-leading scorer on the Wild with 21 points, including a team-high 13 goals.

Minnesota will likely turn to Cam Talbot in net on Saturday.  Talbot has earned the majority of the starts this season, going 12-5-0 with a 2.71 GAA and .914 SV.  Jared Spurgeon (lower-body) is listed as week-to-week and won’t play Saturday.  Frederick Gaudreau (COVID) is listed as questionable.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Maple Leafs vs. Wild?

• Regular Season

Maple Leafs Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Auston Matthews 43
+ / -	Alexander Kerfoot 17
Shots	Auston Matthews 162
Penalty Mins	Wayne Simmonds 40
Wins	Jack Campbell 20
GAA	Jack Campbell 2.26

MIN

Points	Kirill Kaprizov 49
+ / -	Ryan Hartman 31
Shots	Kirill Kaprizov 134
Penalty Mins	Marcus Foligno 75
Wins	Cam Talbot 16
GAA	Kaapo Kahkonen 2.5

• Regular Season

Wild Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Auston Matthews 43
+ / -	Alexander Kerfoot 17
Shots	Auston Matthews 162
Penalty Mins	Wayne Simmonds 40
Wins	Jack Campbell 20
GAA	Jack Campbell 2.26

MIN

Points	Kirill Kaprizov 49
+ / -	Ryan Hartman 31
Shots	Kirill Kaprizov 134
Penalty Mins	Marcus Foligno 75
Wins	Cam Talbot 16
GAA	Kaapo Kahkonen 2.5

Injuries

Toronto

Timothy Liljegren (D)

Ques Sat Head - 26 / 01 / 22

Jake Muzzin (D)

Out indefinitely Concussion - 18 / 01 / 22

Justin Holl (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 14 / 01 / 22

Ondrej Kase (RW)

Ques Wed Conditioning - 14 / 01 / 22

Nick Ritchie (LW)

Ques Sat Conditioning - 14 / 01 / 22

Pierre Engvall (LW)

Prob Sat Conditioning - 07 / 01 / 22

Mitchell Marner (RW)

Prob Sat Conditioning - 07 / 01 / 22

Ondrej Kase (RW)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 04 / 01 / 22

Auston Matthews (C)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 03 / 01 / 22

Timothy Liljegren (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 29 / 12 / 21

Minnesota

Nico Sturm (C)

Out indefinitely Illness - 26 / 01 / 22

Jon Merrill (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 26 / 01 / 22

Ryan Hartman (RW)

Prob Fri Illness - 20 / 01 / 22

Brandon Duhaime (RW)

Prob Fri Conditioning - 08 / 01 / 22

Alex Goligoski (D)

Out indefinitely Illness - 08 / 01 / 22

Jonas Brodin (D)

Early Feb Upper Body - 07 / 01 / 22

Brandon Duhaime (RW)

Out indefinitely Illness - 06 / 01 / 22

Kirill Kaprizov (LW)

Prob Fri Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 22

Nick Bjugstad (C)

Mid Feb Upper Body - 05 / 01 / 22

Jordan Greenway (LW)

Out indefinitely Conditioning - 03 / 01 / 22

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Timothy Liljegren (D)	Ques Sat	Head - 26 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Liljegren exited the last game with a head injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Red Wings on Saturday.
Jake Muzzin (D)	Out indefinitely	Concussion - 18 / 01 / 22	1-2	2-1	+ -
Muzzin is managing a concussion, and it has yet to be established when he will be available to return to the lineup.
Justin Holl (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 14 / 01 / 22	1-3	2-2	+ -
Holl has been entered to the COVID-19 protocol, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Ondrej Kase (RW)	Ques Wed	Conditioning - 14 / 01 / 22	1-3	2-2	+ -
Kase has passed the league's COVID-19 protocol, and it is undetermined if he will be available for Wednesday's clash with the Ducks.
Nick Ritchie (LW)	Ques Sat	Conditioning - 14 / 01 / 22	1-3	2-2	+ -
Ritchie has cleared the COVID-19 protocol, and it is up in the air if he will suit up for Saturday's battle with the Red Wings.
Pierre Engvall (LW)	Prob Sat	Conditioning - 07 / 01 / 22	3-4	4-2-1	+ -
Engvall has completed the COVID-19 protocol, and he is expected to return against the Blues on Saturday.
Mitchell Marner (RW)	Prob Sat	Conditioning - 07 / 01 / 22	3-4	4-2-1	+ -
Marner has cleared the league's COVID-19 protocol, and he is likely to lace up for Saturday's matchup with the Blues.
Ondrej Kase (RW)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 04 / 01 / 22	4-4	4-3-1	+ -
Kase has missed the previous two contests due to an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will take the ice for Tuesday's clash against the Golden Knights.
Auston Matthews (C)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 03 / 01 / 22	4-4	4-3-1	+ -
Matthews is dealing with an unknown injury, but it is projected that he will be available for Wednesday's battle with the Oilers.
Timothy Liljegren (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 29 / 12 / 21	4-4	4-3-1	+ -
Liljegren has ended up in the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undetermined how long he will remain on the shelf.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nico Sturm (C)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 26 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Sturm has been added to the COVID-19 protocol, and it is up in the air when he will return.
Jon Merrill (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 26 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Merrill has been shuttled to the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undecided when he will return.
Ryan Hartman (RW)	Prob Fri	Illness - 20 / 01 / 22	3-1	2-0-2	+ -
Hartman is managing a non-COVID illness, but it is likely that he will play against the Blackhawks on Friday.
Brandon Duhaime (RW)	Prob Fri	Conditioning - 08 / 01 / 22	6-1	3-2-2	+ -
Duhaime has been activated from the COVID-19 protocol, and it is expected that he will take on the Ducks on Friday.
Alex Goligoski (D)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 08 / 01 / 22	6-1	3-2-2	+ -
Goligoski has wound up in the league's COVID-19 protocol, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Jonas Brodin (D)	Early Feb	Upper Body - 07 / 01 / 22	6-1	3-2-2	+ -
Brodin is out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury, and he is not expected to return until the beginning of February.
Brandon Duhaime (RW)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 06 / 01 / 22	6-2	4-2-2	+ -
Duhaime has ended up in the COVID-19 protocol, and it is undetermined how long he will remain on the shelf.
Kirill Kaprizov (LW)	Prob Fri	Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 22	6-2	4-2-2	+ -
Kaprizov has been designated for the injured reserve list with an upper-body issue, but it is anticipated that he will be activated prior to Friday's matchup with the Ducks.
Nick Bjugstad (C)	Mid Feb	Upper Body - 05 / 01 / 22	6-2	4-2-2	+ -
Bjugstad is out of commission due to an upper-body issue, and he is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.
Jordan Greenway (LW)	Out indefinitely	Conditioning - 03 / 01 / 22	6-2	4-2-2	+ -
Greenway has hit the COVID-19 protocol list, and it is unclear how long he will be debilitated.