Maple Leafs vs. Hurricanes picks and odds: Bet Toronto to win
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the road once again to visit the Carolina Hurricanes.
The pregame narrative: The Hurricanes have been one of the NHL’s better home teams this season, but they’re looking more average than elite in their own barn lately. We’re looking to take some plus-money odds with Toronto in addition to rolling with the under.
NHL odds as of 10:24 a.m. on 03/25/2023.
Maple Leafs vs. Hurricanes picks
Best Bet: Maple Leafs moneyline (+120)
Toronto hasn’t been a great road team this season, but recent results offer a more encouraging outlook.
The Maple Leafs are a pedestrian 18-12-4 away from Scotiabank Arena this year. They have, however, won six of their last nine road games and three of their last four.
Carolina isn’t finding the kind of success at PNC Arena that it was earlier in the campaign. The Hurricanes are a strong 24-9-2 on home ice but have lost two of their last three and three of their last six.
The Canes are struggling to score, averaging 2.1 goals per game over their last eight contests. Their brutal .881 save percentage over this stretch, according to Natural Stat Trick, could be a problem against a Toronto offence averaging 4.5 goals over its last four.
Key stat: The Maple Leafs have won four consecutive games against Carolina, including a pair of meetings this season.
Quick picks
Under 6 goals - regular time (-120): The Hurricanes are one of the best under teams in the league, going below their game total 55% of the time (fifth in the NHL). They’ve been an under machine at home recently, falling short or pushing on this total in eight of their last nine.
Toronto has gone over this mark in four consecutive games, but we’re doubting the squad will have its way against a defensively stingy Carolina team.
The Maple Leafs and Canes have pushed or gone below this total in four of their last five meetings.
Hurricanes under 34.5 shots on goal (-112): This mark seems a little high considering the matchup. Carolina is averaging 34.9 shots per game this season, but Toronto is only allowing 29.4 shots per contest.
The Hurricanes have generated 33.0 shots per outing over their last 10, while the Maple Leafs ceded 31.2 in that span. Even during a rough defensive stretch for the Buds, they’re still not consistently giving up this high of a total.
