Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, Preview, and Odds
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The Columbus Blue Jackets (9-16-5, 23 points, 8th Metro) will play north of the border on Thursday when paying a visit to the Toronto Maple Leafs (15-6-5, 35 points, 3rd Atlantic). The Columbus Blue Jackets were defeated by the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Sunday and have lost four of the last five. Toronto defeated the New York Rangers 7-3 Tuesday night with Mitch Garner and Austin Matthews each scoring two goals and the Maple Leafs have won three of the last four. Columbus will play without several players including D Adam Boqvist, C Boone Jenner, G Elvis Merzlikins, C Jack Roslovic and G Daniil Tarasov amongst others. Toronto will play without D Mark Giordano, D John Klingberg, D Timothy Liljegren, G Matt Murray, D Jake Muzzin and D Joseph Woll.
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Columbus has lost its best scorer and its top goalie
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 2.90 goals per game which is 22nd in the NHL. Columbus is averaging 29.5 shots per game which is 26 and is winning only 48.2% of its face offs, which is 24th. The Columbus power play is 26th, scoring 14.1% of the time. The leading goal scorer for Columbus, Boone Jenner with 13, was placed on injured reserve with a fractured jaw three days ago. The second leading goal scorer is Kirill Marchenko with nine goals and Adam Fantilli has scored eight. The leader in assists is Zach Werenski with 20 and the defenseman is also the leader in points with 21.
Columbus has a 3.50 goals against average, which is 29th and is allowing 34.3 shots per game which is also 29th. Columbus does have a solid penalty kill unit that is successful 85.9% of the time the Blue Jackets are short-handed. Spencer Martin is 2-7-1 with a 3.57 goals against average and .892 save percentage. Martin is the active No. 1 goalie for Columbus as Elvis Merzlikins is on injured reserve. Merzlikins was 6-8-4 with a 3.10 GAA and .910 SV% before his injury.
Toronto scores more than it's a share of goals, but gives up too many
The Toronto Maple Leafs are scoring an average of 3.46 goals per game which is seventh best in the NHL. The Maple Leafs are averaging 32.2 shots per game which is 10th best and are winning 53.6% of their face offs which is third best. The Toronto power play scores 25% of the time which is seventh best. Auston Mathews is the leading goal scorer for Toronto with 21, while William Nylander is second with 13 and Mitchell Marner is third with 11. Nylander has the team lead in assists with 23 and in points with 36, Mathews is second in points with 32.
Toronto has a goals against average of 3.19, which is 16th in the NHL. Toronto is allowing an average of 32.2 shots per game which is 25th and the penalty kill unit is successful 80% of the time, which is 17th. Joseph Woll, who had taken over the No. 1 goalie spot for Columbus, is on injured reserve. Ilya Samsonov is 5-1-4 with a 3.29 goals against average and .884 save percentage, while Martin Jones is 2-0-0 with a 3.46 goals against average and .902 average save percentage
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Toronto is missing several defenseman and one of its best goalies, while Columbus is also missing several players as well as its No. 1 goalie. The biggest loss between the two is for Columbus, as the Blue Jackets will play without their leading goal scorer. Not only will Columbus miss Boone Jenner’s goal scoring, as he led the Blue Jackets with 13, but he was also tied for the lead in power play pools with three. Columbus has lost four of its last five overall, 11 of its last 12 played on the road and four of its last six versus Toronto. Despite several injuries, Toronto has won five of its last seven overall and five of its last six played at home. Toronto has points producers that are tough to stop. Auston Mathews has scored 21 goals to lead Toronto while William Nylander has 13 goals, 23 assists (team high) and Mitchell Marner has 11 goals and 17 assists (second). All three are currently healthy and will be a big nemesis to Columbus.
Prediction: Toronto Maple Leafs
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With both Toronto and Columbus missing their top goalies and several defenseman, expect a high scoring affair on Thursday. Toronto is scoring an average 3.46 goals per game and has a goals against average of 3.19, while Columbus averages fewer goals at 2.90 per game but has a higher goals against average at 3.50. The total has finished over in five of Toronto's last six games and in four of Columbus' last five games.
Prediction: OVER
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