Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks: NHL Odds, Prediction

One of the toughest road trips for any Eastern Conference team in the NHL is the California Swing. The Toronto Maple Leafs are 0-1 on that three-game trip as they visit Anaheim for the only time this season on Wednesday night.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks

When: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim

Moneylines: TBA

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

First of two meetings between the teams, with Toronto hosting Anaheim on Feb. 5. Last year, the Ducks won both. It was 3-2 at Air Canada Centre on Dec. 19 on a Cam Fowler power-play goal at 13:08 of the third period. Ryan Getzlaf and Nick Ritchie also scored for Anaheim; it was Ducks coach Randy Carlyle’s first trip back to Air Canada Centre since he was dismissed as Leafs coach in early January 2015. Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri had the Toronto goals. Former Duck Frederik Andersen made 25 saves.

On March 3 in Anaheim, the Ducks won 5-2. Toronto led 2-1 about midway through the second period thanks to goals from Zach Hyman and Kadri. Curtis McElhinney struggled in net, with Rickard Rakell beating him twice. Rakell was the game’s No. 1 star.

Toronto has still won eight of the past 11 in this series.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs (7-5-0) are on a season-high three-game losing streak following Monday’s 3-2 defeat in San Jose, which has now won 10 straight in the series. It was 1-1 entering the third before Tim Heed and Joel Ward scored for San Jose. Kadri made it interesting with his seventh goal of the year at 18:50, but the Leafs couldn’t beat Martin Jones again. Auston Matthews added the other Toronto goal, his ninth. As of Tuesday, he leads the NHL in plus/minus at plus-12. Patrick Marleau was scoreless in his return to San Jose and was minus-2. Marleau spent his first 19 seasons with the Sharks, and he was honored before the game – as he should have been as that franchise’s best player. Andersen had 36 saves in one of his best games of the season. Because the Leafs play again Thursday night at the Kings, Andersen is going to get one of those games off. It’s not yet known if it will be No. 2 McElhinney vs. the Ducks or Kings.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks (6-4-1) completed a four-game road trip on Sunday with three wins after a 4-3 shootout victory at Carolina. Jakob Silfverberg tied it with just under five minutes remaining in the third period for Anaheim, and Corey Perry scored the only goal in the shootout. No. 2 goaltender Ryan Miller, the former Vancouver Canuck, made his first start of the season and had 34 saves; it should be John Gibson back in there Wednesday. He is 5-3-1 with a 2.80 goals-against average and .921 save percentage on the season. Andrew Cogliano (3G, 6A) leads the Ducks with nine points. Anaheim is without Fowler, one of its top defensemen, for anywhere between 3-7 weeks with a right knee injury suffered last week. It’s not clear if Getzlaf will play in this one. He was forced to leave Sunday’s game with a facial injury after getting hit under the eye with a puck. Getzlaf (1G, 6A) missed five games earlier with a lower-body injury. Ryan Kesler hasn’t played yet this season due to offseason hip surgery.

Leafs at Ducks Prediction

Anaheim 4, Toronto 3.