Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals Free Preview

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Matching up for the third and final time this year, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals clash at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for an Eastern Conference showdown. NBC will broadcast the game, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 3.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals Odds

Washington (-120) is currently favored over Toronto (+100) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.

Toronto is 39-27 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.2 units this season. 31 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 31 have gone under and just four have pushed. The Leafs are 17-17 SU on the road in 2017-18.

Toronto has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.

For the team as a whole, the Leafs have been sent to the penalty box just 3.3 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 2.2 per game over its past ten. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 4.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

With a .922 save percentage and 31.5 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (33-21-5) has been the best option in goal for Toronto this season. If Toronto decides to rest him, however, head coach Mike Babcock could turn to Curtis McElhinney (7-5-1 record, .929 save percentage, 2.30 goals against average).

The visiting Maple Leafs have relied heavily on Mitchell Marner and Auston Matthews this season. Marner (53 points) is up to 17 goals and 36 assists, and has recorded two or more points 13 times. Matthews has 28 goals and 22 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 32 games).

On the other side of the rink, Washington is 36-28 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.1 units this season. Through 64 regular season outings, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 26 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the teams 22-11 SU as the home team.

The Capitals have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all penalties.

Capitals players have been whistled for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays a whopping 14.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.

Braden Holtby (28.2 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Capitals. Holtby has 28 wins, 18 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 3.02 goals against average and a poor .908 save percentage this year.

Alex Ovechkin (39 goals, 32 assists) will pace the attack for the Caps.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals Betting Picks

NHL Tip: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

  • Two of Toronto’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 6-2 overall in shootouts this season.
  • The over has hit in three of Toronto’s last five outings.