Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
After clinching their first Atlantic Division title on Tuesday Night, with their fourth straight win, the Maple Leafs have their sights set on the first round of the playoffs. Detroit is coming off yet another disappointing season, missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. They will look to soften the blow of the season with a win over the Leafs to close out the year.
The Leafs are the -140 favourite to win at home on Thursday, according to the NHL odds. The game total is sitting at an even six goals. Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena is set for 7:00 PM ET.
Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
These squads have not met since December, when the Leafs beat the Red Wings 5-2 in Detroit. Toronto leads the season series 2-1, winning once at home and once in Detroit. The team scoring first is 3-0 in the series, and Toronto is the favourite to score first on the NHL Specials at -140. This matchup is typically low-scoring, playing the OVER just three times in their past 10 meetings.
Detroit is riding a three-game win streak and has covered the spread in each of its three wins. They come into the final game at 47-34 ATS, tying them for the second-most covers in the league. They have scored 15 goals in their past three games, helping them hit the OVER in each game.
Toronto has been locked in defensively over the past three games, allowing just one goal. They are now 37-40-4 on the OVER/UNDER after three UNDERS and will look to keep it low on Thursday as well, ahead of the postseason. They covered the spread in four of their past six games, in which they had won them all.
Detroit Red Wings
It was too little, too late for the Red Wings as their three-game win streak came about 10 days too late, as their playoff hopes are already out the window. Each of their past three wins has come over a legit playoff team. They will be wrapping up their season on Thursday with the second half of a back-to-back after taking down the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.
The Wings scored the lone goal in the first period and again in the second, before opening the scoring in the final frame to go up 3-0. The Devils battled back in the second part of the third period, netting two goals in less than three minutes to make things 3-2. Detroit would score two more in the final three minutes to take home the 5-2 win for their third in a row.
There were a few positives from the Wings’ season. Dylan Larkin scored 30 for the fourth consecutive season, and Lucas Raymond led the team with a career high of 80 points. The team will need more consistency to get into the dance next season, expect some changes this offseason.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto really turned up the temperature in the final stretch before the postseason, going 8-1-1 in the past 10 to secure the top seed in the Atlantic. They have won four straight after shutting out the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 on Tuesday.
The scoreless tie was broken late in the second on a goal from Steven Lorentz (8), putting them up 1-0 headed to the third. Mitch Marner (27), Auston Matthews (32) and Nicholas Robertson (15) all scored in the final five minutes for a lopsided 4-0 win.
The most impressive stat of the night was Anthony Stolarz stopping all 35 shots, picking up his third straight shutout, making him the obvious choice for the start in Game 1 of the playoffs.
With their sights set on the Ottawa Senators in Round 1, expect the Leafs to scratch some veterans or players with lingering injuries for Thursday night’s game.
The Leafs are coming into the playoffs ranked as the third favourite in Canada to win the Stanley Cup. The NHL Futures board has them as a +1200 to win it all behind Edmonton and Winnipeg.
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