Two of the NHL’s most-lethal power play teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights collide at Air Canada Centre in an East-West tilt. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, November 6, and it can be caught live on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Vegas Golden Knights at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Vegas (+200) is currently the underdog to Toronto (-240), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 under, +100 over). Those O/U odds have shifted after originally opening at -105 over and -115 under.
Vegas is 9-4 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 8.1 units this year. Through 13 regular season matches, eight of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Golden Knights team is 3-3 SU on the road.
The Golden Knights have converted on 21.8 percent of their power play chances so far (ranked eighth in the NHL), and they’ve successfully killed off 81.0 percent of opponents’ power plays this year (ranked 16th).
The Knights, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties just 3.7 times per game in the 2017-18 season, 3.6 per game over its last five games total, and 3.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 31.0 saves per game with a .925 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (3-1) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, Vegas could go with Oscar Dansk (3-1 record, .946 save percentage, 1.78 goals against average).
James Neal and Reilly Smith will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Golden Knights. Neal has 11 points on seven goals and four assists, and has recorded two or more points in four different games. Smith has four goals and six assists to his credit (and has logged a point in five games).
On the other bench, Toronto is 8-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 10 of its outings have gone over the total, while four have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 4-3 SU at home this season.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 24.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Maple Leafs players have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, a number that’s pretty close to the 3.9 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 8.4 minutes per contest this year.
Frederik Andersen has stopped 29.4 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Maple Leafs. Andersen has seven wins and six losses and has maintained a pedestrian 3.48 goals against average and a fairly-weak .895 save percentage this season.
Auston Matthews (10 goals, eight assists) will pace the attack for the home team.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- Over Toronto’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-5 in those games).
