Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, Preview, and Odds
Free Daily NCAAF Lock Pick, Saturday December 16th: Fresno State vs New Mexico State 5:45pm ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins (13-12-3) made some big moves this off-season in order to make one more Stanley Cup push, and while they've shown that they can beat anyone in the NHL, the consistency just hasn't been there, and if they want to compete in the stacked Metropolitan Division, things will need to change very soon.
In this matchup, they'll take on the Toronto Maple Leafs (15-6-6), who once again enter the 2023-24 season with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and with all four members of the Core Four absolutely flying right now, if this team can find their best form, there's very few, if any teams in the NHL better at this current moment.
Can the Penguins find their consistency in 2023-24?
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the modern NHL's most successful teams, and after a great run under Sidney Crosby, they're looking for one last Cup run in the next few years, but after a 4-4-3 record in their past 11 games, they currently have a record of 13-12-3 on the season, placing them in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, way out of contention for a playoff spot. On the road this year, the Penguins have been average, posting a 7-6-2 record in their 15 games, and with their +9 goal differential, the talent is clearly there, but until they can find their consistency, this is a team that just can't matchup against some of the best teams in the stacked Eastern Conference.
Unsurprisingly, this is a team led by Jake Geuntzel (32 points) and Sidney Crosby (31 points), and while the other veterans like Malkin, Karlsson and Rust have stepped up, they need more from their depth pieces, but in net, they have thrived, with starter Tristan Jarry putting together a 2.46 GAA and a .917 save percentage in 21 starts. Their last game was a much needed win over the Montreal Canadiens, with Crosby's three points leading the way into a shootout that lasted 12 rounds, but ultimately, behind a great team effort and 40 saves from Alex Nedeljokovic they were able to pick up the 4-3 win.
Can the Maple Leafs gain ground on the Bruins in the stacked Atlantic Division?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have once again got to the stage in their season where they look untouchable at times, and with a 9-1-4 record over their past 14 games, they now find themselves sitting at 15-6-6 on the season in possession of second place in the Atlantic Division, despite being six points behind the division leading Boston Bruins. At home this season, the Maple Leafs are 8-4-2 in 14 games, but their +6 goal differential on the season shows that while they've been dominant at times, they've had some big losses and some close wins, so if they want to keep pace atop the division with Florida and Detroit right on their heels, these are the type of big games that they need to win.
Despite John Tavares (28 points), Mitch Marner (32 points) and Auston Matthews (35 points) all having stellar starts to the season, it's UFA William Nylander (38 points) that leads the way for this explosive offense, but throughout the year, it's become clear that goaltending is a major issue, as the team have combined for a 3.30 GAA and a .901 save percentage. Last time out for Toronto was a wild loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets, as the team came back from 5-0 behind a combined 10 points from their core four before ultimately losing in overtime as Samsonov continued his struggles, allowing all six goals on 35 shots faced for the 6-5 defeat.
Tuesday's Top Plays
Today's Top Plays
Tim "Money" Michael - 7-1-1 NBA Run Grab Tim's Tuesday NBA Best Bet For Just $45 -
Will Rogers - 10-2 NBA Run - Snatch up Will's NBA Divisional Total Of The Year For Just $30 -
Tom Macrina - 17-8 CBB Run - Snag Tom's Tuesday Night CBB Best Bet For Just $29 -
Brick Haus Sports - 14-2 NHL Run - Grab Brick's Tuesday NHL 108 Best Bet For Just $29 -
Best Bets
Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
Given that these are two of the Eastern Conference's top teams, it comes as no shock that they have managed to have a very competitive head-to-head rivalry, and while the Penguins have won their lone matchup this season, the Maple Leafs have come away winners in three of their past four meetings.
Beyond that, this Penguins team has shown little to no consistency throughout the season, and if Toronto can get better goaltending out of Joseph Woll (carrying a 2.80 GAA and a .916 save percentage) as opposed to Ilya Samsonov (3.51 GAA and .878 save percentage) who started their last game, this should be a massive home win for the Maple Leafs.
Prediction: Toronto -156
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
In the lone matchup between these two teams in the 2023-24 season, the Penguins came away 3-2 winners, and in their past 10 head-to-head meetings, the under sits at 6-4, with all four of those games that came in Toronto hitting the under.
For the Penguins, the under is 8-2 in their past 10 overall games, with their past seven games played on the road averaging under a combined five goals per game, and for the Maple Leafs, the under may be just 4-6 in their past 10 games, but before their six goal stinker against Columbus, they allowed just two goals per game in their previous five played at home, and with two of the NHL's brightest young goalies in Tristan Jarry and Joseph Woll going head-to-head, this should be a fun matchup in net.
Keep it simple, take the under.
