A couple of teams that’ve positioned themselves squarely in playoff contention, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at Scotiabank Arena. Sportsnet Ontario will air this Eastern Conference matchup, which gets underway at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, December 23.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
Carolina is 22-14 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season outings, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and none have pushed. The Canes are 12-8 SU as the road team in 2019-20.
Carolina has converted on 23.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. Additionally, it has the sixth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 84.6 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Carolina has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall in the 2019-20 season, and 4.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .903 save percentage and 23.9 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (14-9-2) has been the top option in goal for Carolina this season. If Carolina chooses to rest him, however, the team could go with James Reimer (8-6 record, .927 save percentage, 2.31 goals against average).
The visiting Hurricanes will be led by Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov. Teravainen has 36 points on seven goals and 29 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Svechnikov has 15 goals and 21 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 23 games).
On the other side of the ice, Toronto is 19-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 19 of its matches have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 9-8 SU at home this season.
Toronto has converted on 21.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 26th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Toronto players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.3 times per game this season, 2.8 per game over their past five outings total, and 2.8 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Frederik Andersen has stopped 28.4 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Toronto. Andersen has 18 wins, 11 losses, and three OT losses and has recorded a 2.52 goals against average and a .919 save percentage this year.
Auston Matthews (23 goals, 18 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Maple Leafs.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- This game features two offenses that put the puck on goal a lot. Carolina has registered the league’s third-most shots on goal (33.9) and Toronto has attempted the ninth-most (33.3).
- The Hurricanes are 7-2 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-8 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
- Carolina is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Toronto is 1-2 in shootouts.
- Toronto is ranked 17th in the league this season with 7.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it has forced 9.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 11.6 takeaways over its last five.
- Carolina skaters have forced 8.0 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 8.9 takeaways per game (ranked fourth).
- Carolina might have an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 8-4 in one-goal games, while Toronto is 4-8 in such games.
