NHL Betting - San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs

• Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

  By  Ken Williams

  

  Nobody has any margin for error now that the NHL regular season is in full drive towards the playoffs and that fact will be on display when the Toronto Maple Leafs hosts the San Jose Sharks in a critically important NHL betting matchup on TSN on Thursday.

  Road Bite

  The Sharks have been a solid away team that has paid out at a near 60 percent clip on the season. The have also gone under the total in almost 60 percent of their away games. San Jose was ranked 9th in the NHL for goal scoring and had the 4th best power play in the NHL. Their defense again is reliable and ranked 5th for goals against. Joe Thornton was their leading scorer and provided a strong veteran presence in the locker room. The Sharks have been a perennial regular season power that has faded come playoff time. This year they are working to take it all the way but the Leafs are fighting for their playoff lives and have the offense to make for a strong NHL betting commodity.

  Leafs Light up Home

  Toronto was at a near 60 percent success clip at home with nearly 60 percent of their home games going under the total. Toronto had the 6th ranked goal scoring team in the NHL but their defense was killing them and wasting that effort with a 24th place ranking for goals against.

  Trends

  San Jose has won 4 of their last 5 matchups with Toronto including their last 2 away games against the Maple Leafs. This series has gone under the total in 6 of the last 8 head to head meetings in Toronto.

  The Pick

  This one commands taking the power as the Sharks will be at a comparatively bargain price since they are on the road compared to their outrageous overlay odds at the sportsbook normally commanded at home. The Leafs defense is absurdly weak and they are far too inconsistent to risk paying a premium price with as the host in this matchup. San Jose has traditionally been a strong second half of the season team and this would again figure to be the case as they are in the forefront of the Pacific Division as a top Western Conference contender.

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