Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Free Pick

Daniel GimenezHockey, NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs, spearheaded by Mitchell Marner and John Tavares, are set to take the ice against Artemi Panarin, Cam Atkinson, and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in an Eastern Conference matchup. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 23, and you can catch it live on The Sports Network.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds

The Blue Jackets (-115) are tabbed as the favorites over the Maple Leafs (-105) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 over, -110 under).

Toronto is 15-7 straight up (SU) and has netted 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 22 regular season outings, 12 of its games have gone under the total, while eight have gone over and just two have pushed. This 2018-19 Maple Leafs team is 9-2 SU on the road.

Toronto has converted on 24.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.1 percent of its penalties.

Averaging 30.3 saves per game with a .935 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (12-6) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might roll with Garret Sparks (3-1 record, .906 save percentage, 3.20 goals against average).

Over on the other bench, Columbus is 12-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its games have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 5-5 SU at home this year.

The Blue Jackets have converted on just 16.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.

Sergei Bobrovsky (27.6 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky has seven wins and seven losses and has maintained a .915 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average this year.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions

Free Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under

Betting Trends

  • The over has hit in three of Toronto’s last five games.
  • Columbus has attempted 33.0 shots per contest overall this season (the sixth-most in the NHL), and 36.6 in their last five home games.
  • Eight of Toronto’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-2 in those games.
  • Toronto skaters registered 20.8 hits per game last season, while the Blue Jackets logged 21.8 hits per contest.