Madison Square Garden will play host to an Original Six matchup as the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the New York Rangers. The match gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 23, and you’ll be able to see it live on CBC Sports.
Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers Odds
Toronto is 21-15 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.8 units this season. 18 of its outings have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just three have pushed. This 2017-18 Maple Leafs team is 10-10 SU on the road.
Toronto has converted on 22.5 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th out of 31 teams, and the teams successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Leafs have been sent to the penalty box just 3.6 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five road outings. The teams had to kill penalties just 6.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 31.6 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (18-11-1) has been the top option in goal for Toronto this season. If Toronto chooses to rest him, however, they may roll with Curtis McElhinney (3-4 record, .916 save percentage, 2.78 goals against average).
The visiting Maple Leafs have relied on Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner this year. Matthews has 26 points via 13 goals and 13 assists, and has recorded multiple points eight times. Marner has four goals and 21 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 13 games).
On the other side of the rink, New York is 19-16 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. 20 of its outings have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 14-8 SU as the home team this year.
The Rangers have converted on just 20.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
New York skaters have been penalized only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist (28.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Rangers. Lundqvist has 17 wins, 13 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has registered a 2.59 goals against average and a .921 save percentage this year.
Mats Zuccarello (eight goals, 21 assists) will pace the attack for the host team.
Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Five of New York’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 4-1 overall in those games.
- Power plays and penalty kills could be critical tonight. The Maple Leafs are 6-5 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-13 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Rangers are 8-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 13-10 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of New York’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 1-3 overall in shootouts this year.
- Toronto may hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The teams an impressive 10-3 in games decided by one goal, while New York is 6-8 in such games.
- The total has gone under in three of New York’s last five outings.
- New York is ranked 31st this season with 14.3 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the teams averaged 12.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.2 giveaways over its last five.
- Toronto is ranked 26th this season with 11.9 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it’s averaged 9.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 giveaways over its last five.
