Dallas Stars vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, NHL Odds
The Toronto Maple Leafs play their home finale of a massively disappointing season on Monday night by hosting the Western Conference playoff-bound Dallas Stars, who are -170 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Stars vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
If we are being honest here, there’s nothing at stake tonight in this game other than pride for both clubs. Toronto was eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention a long time ago. It might actually benefit the Leafs to lose out to improve their chances of winning the NHL draft lottery.
Dallas is headed to the Western Conference playoffs yet again but really has no reason to care on Monday locked into second place in the Central Division. The Stars will meet the Minnesota Wild in Round 1, and that should be one of the best first-round series of them all.
The Stars eye the season sweep as they were 5-1 home winners against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 21. It was only 1-0 in favour of Dallas entering the third. Jason Robertson scored his first goal in 10 career games against Toronto, the last team in the NHL he had not scored against. Jake Oettinger made 27 saves in the win, while Dennis Hildeby stopped 16 shots for the Leafs.
Toronto is still 7-3 in the past 10 meetings overall, and the over-under is 3-6-1.
Dallas Stars
Dallas won its third in a row Saturday, 2-0 over the New York Rangers, to be locked into second place in the Central Division. The Stars might have one small piece of motivation left as they are two wins shy of a third straight season with at least 50 victories, which would be the longest streak in franchise history.
Dallas can become the sixth team in NHL history with a run of that length, joining the Red Wings (four from 2005-06 to 2008-09), Canadiens (four from 1975-76 to 1978-79), Bruins (four from 1970-71 to 1973-74), Hurricanes (three from 2021-22 to 2023-24), Avalanche (three from 2021-22 to 2023-24) and Flyers (three from 1973-74 to 1975-76).
But there are a lot of key guys sitting out tonight, and I’d imagine No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger might be one of them, too, as he has started every game of this winning streak. His four shutouts this season are tied or third-most among all goalies.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto was routed 6-2 by Florida on Saturday for a fifth straight loss and to fall to 18-14-8 on home ice this season. William Nylander was a bright spot with both goals and is up to a team-leading 75 points. It was his fourth multi-goal game of the season and 22nd multi-point game.
Nylander has eight points (3G, 5A) in his last six games and is also one multi-assist game from tying George Armstrong (68) for the ninth most in Maple Leafs history career.
Defenceman William Villeneuve, 24, skated in his NHL debut and had one block and two shot attempts in 18:45 of ice time. Not totally clear who starts in net tonight as Joseph Woll has been terrible in a personal four-game skid. With Anthony Stolarz hurt, it might be Artur Akhtyamov’s turn Monday.
