New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
We have Original Six hockey to highlight a pretty busy Thursday slate as the New York Rangers visit Scotiabank Arena for the first time this season to face the Maple Leafs, with Toronto at -160 on the NHL odds and a total of 6.5.
Rangers vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
New York was expected to be a major suitor of ex-Toronto star forward Mitch Marner in free agency this past summer, but the Maple Leafs never technically allowed Marner to hit the market by trading his rights to Vegas, which then signed Marner to a long-term deal.
Thursday marks the first of three regular-season meetings between the Original Six rivals with Toronto visiting Madison Square Garden on March 5, and the Rangers returning to Scotiabank Arena on March 25.
The Leafs have won the season series 2-1 each of the past three years but did lose the home matchup in 2024-25 by a score of 4-1. John Tavares (2G, 1A), Matthew Knies (2G, 1A), William Nylander (1G, 2A) and Jake McCabe (3A) led Toronto with three points each in the series. Anthony Stolarz was in net for each and finished with a 2.35 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.
Mike Zibanejad (1G, 3A) led New York with four points. Former Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin was in net for all three and had a 2.74 GAA and .899 SV. The Russian is 6-4-2 career vs. Toronto with a 2.67 GAA and .914 SV.
Toronto is 6-2 in the past eight meetings overall, and the under is 4-2 in the past six.
New York Rangers
New York’s offence has gone missing in back-to-back home loss to Washington and Edmonton, although the Rangers outshot the high-powered Oilers 30-22 in Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat. That’s four straight games with at least 30 shots. The Blueshirts didn’t commit a single penalty but were 0-for-3 with the man advantage vs. Edmonton. They haven’t scored a goal in three home games this season, the only team in league history to accomplish that in the first three of a campaign. But they have outscored foes 10-1 in two road games.
Igor Shesterkin allowed one goal (second on an empty net) Tuesday and has allowed one or fewer goals in all four of his starts this season. Since 2021-22, Shesterkin’s 72 games of allowing one or fewer goals leads the NHL. He should be in there Thursday. New York misses injured centre Vincent Trocheck, who hasn’t played since Oct. 9 due to injury. He had 26 goals and 33 assists in 82 games last year, his second year in a row playing all 82. The under is 5-1 in New York’s past six games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto snapped a two-game skid – both to Detroit – with Tuesday’s 7-4 home win over Nashville. Because that was the second of a back-to-back, the Leafs gave backup netminder Cayden Primeau his first start of 2025, and he made 26 saves. William Nylander had two assists and an empty-net goal, Matthew Knies had a career-high three helpers, and Auston Matthews two goals, including the eventual winner. It was the American’s 64th career game-winning goal to pass Dave Keon (63) for the second most in franchise history, behind Mats Sundin (79).
John Tavares had his second multi-point game of the season (1G, 2A) and the 82nd game of his NHL career with three or more points. The Maple Leafs were 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. A nearly perfect offensive game, but it also game against Nashville’s backup. Should be back to Anthony Stolarz for Thursday for Toronto. He is 1-1 in two home starts with a 2.53 GAA and .891 SV. He was 2-1-0 last year vs. New York with 2.35 GAA and .924 SV. Toronto has won seven straight games vs. Metropolitan Division foes.
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