Madison Square Garden plays host to an Original Six tilt as the New York Rangers welcome the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s the third and last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The action will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1, and it can be caught live on MSG Network.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers Odds
Toronto is 29-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 52 regular season matches, 24 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just four have pushed. As an away team this season, the Leafs are 15-13 SU.
Toronto has converted on 20.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the sixth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 83.3 percent of its penalties.
The Leafs, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.5 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 2.4 per game over its last ten matchups. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .922 save percentage and 31.0 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (25-18-4) has been the best option in goal for Toronto this season. Andersen played last night, however, so Toronto may choose to rest him and go with Curtis McElhinney instead (4-4 record, .925 save percentage, 2.55 goals against average).
The visiting Maple Leafs have relied on Auston Matthews and William Nylander this season. Matthews has 39 points via 23 goals and 16 assists, and has recorded two or more points 11 times. Nylander has 10 goals and 27 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 28 games).
On the other side of the rink, New York is 25-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 50 regular season outings, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 17-11 SU at home this year.
The Rangers have converted on just 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Rangers players have been called for penalties only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist has denied 28.9 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Rangers. Lundqvist has 21 wins, 21 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has recorded a .922 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average this year.
Mats Zuccarello (eight goals, 29 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Rangers.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over New York’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
- Toronto has allowed 2.8 goals per game overall this season, but is allowing only 1.0 per contest over their three-game winning streak.
- The Rangers are 11-12 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Maple Leafs are 15-10 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
- Toronto is 4-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-4 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in four of New York’s last five outings.
- New York is ranked 30th this season with 13.1 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as the team’s averaged 7.2 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 giveaways over its last five.
- Toronto has averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 11.6 giveaways per game (ranked 27th in the league).
