Toronto Maple Leafs at Vancouver Canucks odds, picks and predictions
The Toronto Maple Leafs (22-13-8) make the 3rd stop on a 4-game road trip against the Vancouver Canucks (30-11-4) Saturday. Puck drop at Rogers Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Maple Leafs vs. Canucks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Maple Leafs halted a 4-game losing streak (0-3-1) with a 4-3 victory against the Calgary Flames Thursday as the Over (6.5) connected. Toronto has posted the Over in 4 of the past 6 games.
The offense hasn’t been the problem for the Leafs, going for 3.5 goals per game (GPG) with a 26.0% success rate on the power play. Toronto is 6th in the NHL in each of those categories, and the defense/goaltending allows 3.3 GPG to rank 21st, while the penalty kill is just 77.0%, which is 25th.
The Canucks posted a 2-1 win against the visiting Arizona Coyotes Thursday, and Vancouver is 6-0-1 in the past 7 outings, while the Over is 4-2-1 during the span.
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Maple Leafs at Canucks odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update at 11:35 a.m. ET.
Maple Leafs at Canucks projected goalies
Ilya Samsonov (5-3-6, 3.88 GAA, .863 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Thatcher Demko (23-8-1, 2.42 GAA, .919 SV%, 4 SO)
Samsonov allowed 3 goals on 23 shots in a 4-2 setback at home against the Detroit Red Wings. He is winless in the past 5 starts, going 0-2-3 with a 5.32 GAA and .811 SV%. Samsonov hopes to tap into his previous start against Vancouver when he allowed just 2 goals on 33 shots in a 5-2 win on Nov. 11 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Demko allowed just a single goal on 21 shots in a 2-1 win against the Coyotes Thursday, and he has won 5 consecutive outings. He has been red-hot in the month of January, going 6-1-0 with a 2.29 GAA and .927 SV% with 1 SO in 7 starts.
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Maple Leafs at Canucks picks and predictions
Prediction
Canucks 5, Maple Leafs 3
The CANUCKS (-125) are a nice value at home, as Samsonov has just been too shaky for the Maple Leafs (+105).
Vancouver has picked up 13 out of a possible 14 points in the past 7 games, and it is 6-0-1 in past 7 contests against Vancouver Canucks. The Leafs have lost 6 straight trips to Vancouver, last winning Dec. 10, 2019.
The CANUCKS -1.5 (+180) are worth a look for a chance to nearly double up, as the defense and goaltending for the Maple Leafs +1.5 (-225) have just been so erratic this season.
Vancouver has failed to cover the puck line in each of the past 3 games as a favorite, but the Canucks have won 3 of the past 5 games at home by 2 or more goals.
The OVER 6.5 (-130) is the play in this all-Canada matchup.
The total has gone high in 4 of the past 6 games for the Leafs, while the Canucks have hit the Over at a 4-2-1 clip in the past 7 games, while going 9-4-1 across the past 14 contests.
Vancouver ranks No. 1 in the NHL on offense with 3.8 GPG, and the penalty kill is just so-so at 78.8% to rank 20th in the league. Look for plenty of goals.
