The Prudential Center is playing host to an enticing showdown as the New Jersey Devils prepare to face the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sports Network will showcase this Eastern Conference matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 18.
Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
Toronto is 21-12 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.4 units this year. Through 33 regular season contests, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while another 15 have gone under and just three have pushed. As the away team in 2018-19, the Leafs are 12-6 SU.
Toronto has converted on 22.5 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off 79.1 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Toronto has been called for penalties just 3.0 times per game overall during the 2018-19 season, and 5.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 14.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
With a .923 save percentage and 30.1 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (17-10-1) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto this year. If head coach Mike Babcock decides to rest him, however, Toronto may roll with Garret Sparks (4-3-1 record, .913 save percentage, 2.84 goals against average).
Mitchell Marner and Morgan Rielly will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Maple Leafs. Marner has 43 points on eight goals and 35 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 13 different games. Rielly has 10 goals and 25 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 23 games).
On the other bench, New Jersey is 11-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 31 regular season matches, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 8-6 SU as the home team.
New Jersey has converted on 18.6 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
New Jersey skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Keith Kinkaid (26.7 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for New Jersey. Kinkaid has 11 wins, 15 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has maintained a subpar .906 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (eight goals, 23 assists) will lead the attack for the Devils.
Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Devils, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in four of their past five games.
- The Devils are 4-8 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Maple Leafs are 9-3 SU when they spend more time in the box than their opponent.
- New Jersey is ranked 10th in the NHL this season with 8.4 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as it has averaged 6.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Toronto skaters have averaged 10.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 9.2 takeaways per game (ranked fifth in the league).
- Toronto could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 5-3 in games decided by one goal, while New Jersey is only 3-9 in such games.
