Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs odds, picks and predictions
The Chicago Blackhawks (1-2-0) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (2-0-0) meet Monday at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blackhawks play the 4th contest of a 5-game road trip to open the season. After posting a 4-2 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Chicago has been outscored 6-3 in a pair of losses in Boston and Montreal. The Under has cashed in all 3 games to date.
The Maple Leafs opened with a wild 6-5 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday, then posted a 7-4 win Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. C Auston Matthews has posted consecutive hat tricks to open the season, becoming just the 5th player in NHL history to open the season with back-to-back 3-goal games.
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Blackhawks at Maple Leafs odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:24 a.m. ET.
Blackhawks at Maple Leafs projected goalies
Petr Mrazek (1-1-0, 2.54 GAA, .935 SV%) vs. Joseph Woll (6-1-0, 2.16 GAA, .932 SV% - 2022-23)
Mrazek allowed 2 goals on 41 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 road win in Pittsburgh. He was solid in Montreal on Saturday, allowing just 3 goals on 36 shots in a 3-2 loss, but the offense was unable to give him much support. Mrazek allowed 5 goals on 42 shots in a loss in Toronto on Feb. 15 last season, facing his former team. He spent the 2021-22 season with the Maple Leafs.
Woll has posted impressive numbers in his brief career, going 9-2-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .924 SV% in 11 NHL regular-season starts. This will be his 1st appearance against the Blackhawks. He was 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .941 SV% in 2 starts against the Western Conference last season.
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Blackhawks at Maple Leafs picks and predictions
Prediction
Maple Leafs 5, Blackhawks 3
The Maple Leafs (-350) will cost you 3 1/2 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk, and not enough reward. Toronto has been getting all kinds of offense, but the defense is a little bit of a concern. The Leafs are averaging 6.5 goals per game in the early going, while allowing 4.5 GPG. Until the Leafs get the defense and goaltending under control, they're a major risk.
AVOID.
The MAPLE LEAFS -1.5 (-135) are worth playing lightly on the puck line, and Toronto covered the goal and a half last time out.
The Blackhawks +1.5 (+110) have played pretty good defense in the 3 games, allowing a total of just 7 goals. They haven't faced a high-octane offense like the Leafs, however, and Toronto knows Mrazek well from his team in T-Dot.
OVER 6.5 (-120) is the best play on the board in Toronto games until further notice.
Not only have the Leafs rolled up 13 total goals in 2 games, they have allowed 9 goals, too. The defense has been a train wreck, the goaltending has been shaky, but man, Toronto has been scoring so much, that "Pursuit of Happiness" by Kid Cudi is already played out as the goal song.
