A couple of teams riding winning streaks, the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at Air Canada Centre in an Atlantic Division tilt. CBC Sports will showcase the game, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 10.
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto is 32-24 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from last years regular season campaign. Through 56 regular season contests, 28 of its games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just four have pushed. The team is 16-10 SU at home this season.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 20.5 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Maple Leafs have been whistled for penalties just 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five outings home outings. The team has had to defend opposition power plays for just 5.3 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 31.1 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Frederik Andersen (27-19-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Leafs this year. If the Leafs decide to give him the night off, however, the team could go with Curtis McElhinney (6-4-4 record, .932 save percentage, 2.27 goals against average).
Auston Matthews and William Nylander will each lead the charge for the Maple Leafs. Matthews (43 points) is up to 25 goals and 18 assists and has recorded two or more points 13 times this year. Nylander has 12 goals and 29 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 31 games.
Ottawa is 19-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team, the Senators are 7-18 SU so far.
The Senators have converted on just 16.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully defended 74.8 percent of all penalties.
Ottawa’s players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their past five outings total, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (28.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Ottawa. Anderson owns a 16-23-5 record, and has registered a .904 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone (18 goals, 26 assists) and Mike Hoffman (15 goals, 22 assists).
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over Toronto’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
- The Senators are 7-16 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-21 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Toronto is 5-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Ottawa is 2-5 in shootouts.
- Toronto may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The teams 16-8 in games decided by one goal, while Ottawa is 12-17 in such games.
- The total has gone under in four of Toronto’s last five outings.
- Toronto is ranked 29th this season with 11.9 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as the teams averaged 13.4 giveaways over its last 10 games and 16.4 giveaways over its last five.
- Ottawa has averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.0 giveaways per game (ranked 21st in the league).
- Ottawa skaters have dished out the eighth-most hits in the league (23.8 per game), but that numbers down to just 20.4 hits over their last five away games.
