Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Picks

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14 December 2023

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets (9-16-5) visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (15-6-5) in one of eight NHL matchups on the NHL schedule today. Toronto is 6-1-3 in its last 10 games and has points in seven consecutive games, while the Blue Jackets are 4-5-1 in their last 10 and coming off of a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers.

Spencer Martin (3.58 GAA, .892 save percentage) is expected to start in goal for the Blue Jackets, although that isn’t confirmed. Ilya Samsonov (3.29 GAA, .884 save percentage) is the projected starting goaltender for the Maple Leafs. Let’s take a look at the Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs betting picks.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds

Toronto is unsurprisingly the betting favorite in Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs betting picks with NHL odds of -270 for the moneyline and -1.5 (-115) for the puck line. The Blue Jackets have +220 moneyline odds and +1.5 (-105) puck line odds. The over/under is 6.5.

Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs Information

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Location of the game: Scotiabank Arena. Toronto, Ontario.

Date & Time: Thursday, December 14 at 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: ESPN+ and Sportsnet Ontario (Canada)

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs Analysis

Columbus Blue Jackets Performance Recap and Analysis

The Columbus Blue Jackets standings could be a lot better given the talent they have on their roster, but key players Johnny Guadreau and Patrik Laine have been incredibly disappointing this season with just 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists) and eight points (5 goals, 3 assists), respectively. Zach Werenski leads the team in NHL player stats with 21 points (1 goal, 20 assists).

The Blue Jackets are 24th in goals per game (2.9), 29th in goals allowed (34.3), and a bottom-10 team in most other categories. They’re eighth in the NHL standings for the Metropolitan Division and just 2-8-3 on the road this season.

Key Injuries

Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is out for the Blue Jackets with an illness and captain Boone Jenner is on the IR with a broken jaw.
Damon Severson, Adam Boqvist, and Jack Roslovic are also on the NHL injury report for Columbus.

Betting Trends to Know

Columbus ranks fourth among NHL picks in record against the spread (ATS) at 18-12, including 9-4 on the road, indicating they play a lot of one-goal games on the road.
Their over-under record is 9-4 on the road.

Toronto Maple Leafs Performance Recap and Analysis

The Maple Leafs have been among the most consistent NHL teams as of late, recording points in seven consecutive games and 13 of their last 14. They’re now seventh in goals per game (3.46) after a seven-goal effort against the New York Rangers on Tuesday and rank 16th in goals allowed (3.19), which is also much-improved thanks to Joseph Woll and Samsonov, who has allowed just 12 goals in his last five starts.

The Maple Leafs stars are also starting to heat up, particularly Auston Matthews, who has 32 points (21 goals, 11 assists) and seven goals in his last five games. He had 14 shots in his last two games. The Toronto Maple Leafs lines are also balanced as the team has received contributions from up and down the lineup.

Key Injuries

The Maple Leafs are effectively rolling out three NHL defensemen every night as Mark Giordano, Timothy Liljegren, and John Klingberg are all out with injury.
Matthew Knies missed Tuesday’s game against the Rangers with an illness.

Betting Trends to Know

Toronto is second last in record ATS at 7-17, including 4-9 at home. Their over-under record is 9-4 at home.

Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs Betting Picks

Moneyline: The Blue Jackets are awful on the road and the Maple Leafs are heating up. Don’t overthink this one.

Spread: Toronto went through a stretch of 10 games in which they played one-goal games, but they broke out against the Rangers with a 7-4 victory and should build upon that at home against a weak Blue Jackets team.

Over/Under: The over is always a good option in Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs betting picks considering how often it has hit in both teams’ games this season.