Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks Free Prediction

Daniel GimenezHockey, NHL

Two clubs facing each other for the first time this year, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Anaheim Ducks collide at the Honda Center. The first puck will drop at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, November 16, and you can see this cross-continent matchup live on The Sports Network.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks Odds

Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.

Toronto is 13-6 straight up (SU) and has netted 2.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 19 regular season contests, 11 of its games have gone under the total, while six have gone over and just one has pushed. The Leafs are 8-1 SU on the road in 2018-19.

Toronto has converted on 25.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.3 percent of its penalties.

For the team as a whole, Toronto has been penalized just 3.1 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Boasting a .934 save percentage and 29.3 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (11-5) has been the best option in goal for Toronto this season. Andersen played last night, however, so head coach Mike Babcock could opt to rest him and instead roll with Garret Sparks (2-1 record, .879 save percentage, 4.00 goals against average).

Mitchell Marner and Morgan Rielly will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Maple Leafs. Marner (25 points) is up to six goals and 19 assists, and has recorded two or more points seven times. Rielly has eight goals and 16 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 13 games.

Anaheim is 8-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 20 regular season outings, 13 of its games have gone under the total, while six have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 5-6 SU at home this season.

Anaheim has converted on just 14.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 27th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all opponent power plays.

Anaheim players have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, 4.4 per game over their past five games total, and 4.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties 11.2 minutes per game over their last five home outings.

John Gibson (31.9 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in the crease for Anaheim. Gibson has six wins, 10 losses, and three OT losses to his credit and has maintained a .927 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average this season.

The home team will be led on offense by Rickard Rakell (three goals, 10 assists).

Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks Free Picks

NHL Pick: SU Winner – Ducks, O/U – Over

Betting Trends

  • The total has gone under in four of Anaheim’s last five outings.
  • The Maple Leafs are 5-1 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 10-6 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
  • Two of Anaheim’s past 10 contests have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
  • Anaheim is ranked 27th this season with 5.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team has created 4.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.0 takeaways over its last five.
  • Toronto has managed 8.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 9.1 takeaways per game (ranked seventh overall).