NHL Playoffs Series Odds: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The NHL’s one-time 24-team playoff format appears to have hugely benefited the Toronto Maple Leafs – in terms of finally winning a post-season round. The Eastern Conference’s eighth-seeded Leafs will take on the No. 9 Columbus Blue Jackets in a best-of-5 series with August 2nd start date in Toronto. Toronto is a -191 favourite on the NHL series odds with Columbus at +136. The teams split two regular-season meetings.
Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
Columbus finished the regular season 33-22-15 for 81 points, which normally would have gotten the Blue Jackets the East’s final playoff spot and would have meant a first-round matchup with Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston. The Jackets were the only team among the East’s Top 8 in points to finish with a negative goal differential (minus-7). It’s the fourth straight season in the post-season for Columbus. It pulled the biggest playoff upset in league history last spring. The Jackets were the No. 8 seed and knocked off the record-setting Tampa Bay Lightning in a historic first-round sweep.
During this regular season, Columbus ranked 27th in scoring (2.57 gpg) but third defensively (2.61 gpg). That latter number is impressive considering star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky left in free agency last summer for the Florida Panthers. The Jackets’ two 26-year-old netminders, Joonas Korpisalo (19-12-5, 2.60 GAA, .911 SV) and rookie Elvis Merzlikins (13-9-8, 2.35 GAA, .923), both were largely outstanding. Columbus is +2500 on the NHL odds to win the East and a +5000 long shot for the Cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto finished the regular season 36-25-9 for 81 points, which was third in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since beating Ottawa in the first round back in 2004. This new format was huge, then, because in usual circumstances Toronto would have played high-powered Tampa Bay in Round 1. The Lightning are + 600 Stanley Cup favourites.
The Maple Leafs ranked third in the regular season in scoring at 3.39 goals per game, with Auston Matthews finishing one goal shy (he had 47) of tying for the Rocket Richard Trophy. Winger Andreas Johnsson had knee surgery in February and was set to miss six months but could be ready when the playoffs start. He had eight goals and 13 assists in 43 games. Blueliner Jake Muzzin, who broke his hand in late-February, will be good to go. Toronto struggled defensively during the season, ranking 26th in goals allowed per game (3.17). The Leafs are +1000 to end the longest Stanley Cup title drought in the NHL and +550 to win the East.