Two teams facing each other for the second time this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes meet at PNC Arena in an Eastern Conference matchup. The opening face-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, November 24, and fans at home can witness the game live on Fox Sports Carolina.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Each team currently has an identical -110 money line in this matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Toronto is 14-9 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its matches have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just three have pushed. As the away team this season, the Leafs are 6-5 SU.
Toronto has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and the teams successfully killed off 80.8 percent of its penalties.
Toronto, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, 4.0 per game over its last five matchups total, and 4.4 per game over its last five on the road. The teams had to defend opponent power plays 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .918 save percentage and 30.9 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (12-8-1) has been the best option in goal for Toronto this year. If head coach Mike Babcock decides to rest him, however, Toronto could go with Curtis McElhinney (2-1), who has a .910 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average this year.
The visiting Maple Leafs will be led by Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri. Matthews (21 points) has tallied 12 goals and nine assists, and has recorded multiple points in seven different games. Kadri has 11 goals and nine assists to his name (and has notched at least one point in 14 games).
Carolina is 9-11 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its matches have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 4-6 SU as the home team this season.
Carolina has converted on just 15.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina players have been penalized only 2.6 times per game in total this season, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling has denied 24.7 shots per game as the top option in goal for Carolina. Darling has six wins, nine losses, and four OT losses and has recorded a mediocre 2.69 goals against average and a subpar .900 save percentage this season.
Teuvo Teravainen (eight goals, 12 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Hurricanes.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The total has gone over in three of Carolina’s last five outings.
- Penalties and power plays could prove to be even more critical than usual tonight. The Maple Leafs are 5-3 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 9-7 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Hurricanes are 5-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-11 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Carolina is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 1-1 in shootouts.
- Carolina is ranked 4th with 10.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher recently, as it has forced 11.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 12.2 takeaways over its last five.
- Toronto is ranked eighth in the NHL with 8.6 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as the team has averaged 9.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Toronto could hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 6-2 in one-goal games, while Carolina is 2-7 in such games.
