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
• Playoffs

Maple Leafs Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Auston Matthews 106
+ / -	Michael Bunting 27
Shots	Auston Matthews 348
Penalty Mins	Wayne Simmonds 96
Wins	Jack Campbell 31
GAA	Jack Campbell 2.64

MIN

Points	Kirill Kaprizov 108
+ / -	Alex Goligoski 41
Shots	Kirill Kaprizov 289
Penalty Mins	Brandon Duhaime 122
Wins	Cam Talbot 32
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 2.74

TOR

Points	Auston Matthews 9
+ / -	TJ Brodie 5
Shots	Auston Matthews 29
Penalty Mins	Ilya Lyubushkin 18
Wins	Jack Campbell 3
GAA	Jack Campbell 3.15

MIN

Points	Kirill Kaprizov 8
+ / -	Jacob Middleton 6
Shots	Kirill Kaprizov 27
Penalty Mins	Kevin Fiala 16
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 2
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 3.04

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Wild Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Auston Matthews 106
+ / -	Michael Bunting 27
Shots	Auston Matthews 348
Penalty Mins	Wayne Simmonds 96
Wins	Jack Campbell 31
GAA	Jack Campbell 2.64

MIN

Points	Kirill Kaprizov 108
+ / -	Alex Goligoski 41
Shots	Kirill Kaprizov 289
Penalty Mins	Brandon Duhaime 122
Wins	Cam Talbot 32
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 2.74

TOR

Points	Auston Matthews 9
+ / -	TJ Brodie 5
Shots	Auston Matthews 29
Penalty Mins	Ilya Lyubushkin 18
Wins	Jack Campbell 3
GAA	Jack Campbell 3.15

MIN

Points	Kirill Kaprizov 8
+ / -	Jacob Middleton 6
Shots	Kirill Kaprizov 27
Penalty Mins	Kevin Fiala 16
Wins	Marc-Andre Fleury 2
GAA	Marc-Andre Fleury 3.04

Injuries

Toronto

Rasmus Sandin (D)

Out indefinitely Knee - 09 / 05 / 22

Ondrej Kase (RW)

Prob Fri Personal - 06 / 05 / 22

William Nylander (RW)

Prob Wed Food Poisoning - 04 / 05 / 22

Kyle Clifford (LW)

Elig Fri Suspension - 03 / 05 / 22

John Tavares (C)

Out Fri Rest - 29 / 04 / 22

Mitchell Marner (RW)

Out Fri Rest - 28 / 04 / 22

Timothy Liljegren (D)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 24 / 04 / 22

John Tavares (C)

Out Sun Rest - 24 / 04 / 22

Michael Bunting (LW)

Prob Wed Lower Body - 23 / 04 / 22

Jake Muzzin (D)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 15 / 04 / 22

Minnesota

Nicolas Deslauriers (LW)

Ques Sat Undisclosed - 12 / 05 / 22

Jared Spurgeon (D)

Ques Wed Poss. Suspension - 03 / 05 / 22

Marcus Foligno (LW)

Ques Mon Lower Body - 30 / 04 / 22

Jared Spurgeon (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 25 / 04 / 22

Mats Zuccarello (RW)

Prob Mon Lower Body - 23 / 04 / 22

Marcus Foligno (LW)

Prob Tues Illness - 18 / 04 / 22

Tyson Jost (C)

Prob Fri Lower Body - 16 / 04 / 22

Jordan Greenway (LW)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 22

Nicolas Deslauriers (LW)

Prob Thurs Lower Body - 10 / 04 / 22

Matt Dumba (D)

Prob Fri Upper Body - 05 / 04 / 22

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Rasmus Sandin (D)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 09 / 05 / 22	1-2	3-0	+ -
Sandin is sidelined with a knee injury, and it has yet to be established when he will return to the lineup.
Ondrej Kase (RW)	Prob Fri	Personal - 06 / 05 / 22	2-3	5-0	+ -
Kase is tending to a personal matter, but he is projected to take on the Lightning in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.
William Nylander (RW)	Prob Wed	Food Poisoning - 04 / 05 / 22	3-3	5-1	+ -
Nylander is on the mend after a case of food poisoning, and it is anticipated that he will take part in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Lightning.
Kyle Clifford (LW)	Elig Fri	Suspension - 03 / 05 / 22	3-3	5-1	+ -
Clifford is serving a one-game suspension for boarding, and he is eligible to return for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Lightning.
John Tavares (C)	Out Fri	Rest - 29 / 04 / 22	5-3	6-2	+ -
Tavares will not face the Bruins on Friday, as he will be given a day of rest.
Mitchell Marner (RW)	Out Fri	Rest - 28 / 04 / 22	5-3	6-2	+ -
Marner is absent from the lineup for Friday's clash with the Bruins as he will be given a day of rest.
Timothy Liljegren (D)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 24 / 04 / 22	7-3	6-3-1	+ -
Liljegren was held out of the last game due to an unspecified ailment, and it is unclear if he will play Tuesday against the Red Wings.
John Tavares (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 24 / 04 / 22	7-3	6-3-1	+ -
Tavares will not suit up against the Capitals on Sunday, as he will be given a day of rest.
Michael Bunting (LW)	Prob Wed	Lower Body - 23 / 04 / 22	7-4	7-3-1	+ -
Bunting is battling a lower-body injury, but it is projected that he will face the Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jake Muzzin (D)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 15 / 04 / 22	10-5	9-3-3	+ -
Muzzin has been idle due to an unannounced aliment, but it is projected that he will return for Tuesday's matchup versus the Red Wings.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Nicolas Deslauriers (LW)	Ques Sat	Undisclosed - 12 / 05 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Deslauriers is battling an unspecified issue, and it is uncertain if he will suit up against the Blues in Game 7 of the Western Conference first round.
Jared Spurgeon (D)	Ques Wed	Poss. Suspension - 03 / 05 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Spurgeon is facing a potential suspension for cross-checking, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Blues.
Marcus Foligno (LW)	Ques Mon	Lower Body - 30 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Foligno is hampered by a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will be in the lineup versus the Blues for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Jared Spurgeon (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 25 / 04 / 22	3-6	5-4	+ -
Spurgeon is idle with an upper-body issue, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Mats Zuccarello (RW)	Prob Mon	Lower Body - 23 / 04 / 22	4-6	6-4	+ -
Zuccarello is tending to a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Marcus Foligno (LW)	Prob Tues	Illness - 18 / 04 / 22	6-7	8-5	+ -
Foligno has been activated from the COVID-19 protocol, and it is projected that he will suit up against the Coyotes on Tuesday.
Tyson Jost (C)	Prob Fri	Lower Body - 16 / 04 / 22	7-8	9-6	+ -
Jost has been absent from the last three games with a lower-body injury, but it is projected that he will return to action for Friday's contest versus the Kraken.
Jordan Greenway (LW)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 22	8-8	9-7	+ -
Greenway has been sidelined with an upper-body injury, but it is expected that he will return to the ice for Tuesday's matchup versus the Coyotes.
Nicolas Deslauriers (LW)	Prob Thurs	Lower Body - 10 / 04 / 22	9-9	11-7	+ -
Deslauriers has sat out the previous two contests with a lower-body issue, but it is projected that he will suit up for Thursday's battle with the Stars.
Matt Dumba (D)	Prob Fri	Upper Body - 05 / 04 / 22	10-10	12-8	+ -
Dumba has been idle due to an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will suit up against the Avalanche on Friday.