Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
The Leafs overcame a 2-1 season-opening loss to Montreal with Wednesday’s slim 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders, and will be aiming to tally consecutive home wins for the first time since early January. The Senators open their schedule with Saturday’s date in Toronto. The club is coming off a 44-win campaign that earned them the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference last spring, but have work to do after posting just one win in five preseason contests including a pair of losses to Toronto by multi-goal margins.
The Maple Leafs get set to hit the ice as -130 home favourites Saturday’s NHL odds. The Senators trail as +105 underdogs, and the total is listed at 6.
Senators vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
These rival met four times last season, with the Senators claiming a trio of wins including a decisive 7-2 victory in Toronto on February 28. Overall, the Sens have taken five of seven from the Buds, with each of the past six meetings between these squads getting settled by multi-goal margins. The OVER has also paid out regularly for NHL totals bettors, going 5-2 in their past seven head-to-head tilts.
While the Leafs have managed to split their first two games, they have yet to find their offensive groove, scoring just four total goals while averaging 27 shots per game. That sputtering start has done little to boost the tempered expectations that continue to make the Leafs a lengthy +220 bet on the Stanley Cup odds.
However, Toronto remains well ahead of the Senators, who open the new season facing plenty of skepticism at the sportsbook. In addition to lagging at +4000 on the Stanley Cup odds, the Sens are also a -115 bet on the NHL futures to record UNDER 94.5 points after finishing last season with 99 points, and are a +100 bet to return to the postseason this coming spring.
Ottawa Senators
Following an offseason a change, the Senators return to action with a substantially different lineup. The club’s defining offseason move was Brady Tkachuk’s trade to Florida. Ottawa used the first-round pick acquired in the Tkachuk deal to acquire William Eklund from Dan Jose. Eklund could find himself in a major offensive role, while Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Claude Giroux and Jake Sanderson remain the team’s core. The Senators’ biggest problem going into Saturday is injuries. Artem Zub and Andre Burakovsky are out indefinitely, while Warren Foegele opens the season on IR. Jake Sanderson has also been dealing with an undisclosed injury, although Ottawa’s extra days before opening night have given him additional recovery time. The injury could open the door for young defenceman Carter Yakemchuk to see more time, while Linus Ullmark is expected to be between the pipes.
Toronto Maple Leafs
After two games, the Leafs have plenty to be happy about, but also no shortage of concerns. Some reports suggest Anthony Stolarz could man the crease for a second straight game after turning in a sterling 26-save performance in Wednesday’s win over the Islanders. William Nylander picked up where he left off last season, potting a pair of goals in Tuesday’s loss before Easton Cowan captured the spotlight with a goal and an assist versus New York. Kirill Marchenko has not looked out of place in his Leafs debut. Acquired on Monday in a deal that sent power forward Matthew Knies to Columbus, Marchenko tallied an assist and four shots versus the Habs and was second among forwards with a much needed 4:43 on the power play. However, Matthews has yet to record a point through two games while prized rookie Gavin McKenna has also been held off the scoresheet in his NHL debut.
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