Oilers Search for Much-Needed Win vs Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs face the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth time in ten days on Saturday night. The Leafs have won each of the last two against the Oilers and four in a row overall. Meanwhile, the Oilers have lost five of their last seven and the temperature is starting to rise in Edmonton.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The game opened with the Leafs as favorites at -133 and the line has shifted down slightly into the -120 to -130 range. The total opened at 7.5 and is now locked in at 6.5 with the UNDER the favorite in the -105 to -115 range.

Toronto News & Notes

Only two teams have scored more goals this season than the Toronto Maple Leafs and the team’s top-end talent is well documented. So, it is only fair to expect a few goals when the Leafs take the ice. Winger Mitch Marner is second in the league with 13 points and center Auston Matthews is tied for sixth with nine points. Through eight games this season, the Leafs have scored fewer than three goals in a game only once and fewer than 20 scoring chances twice.

The problem with the Leafs is they have trouble defending. Despite their ability to put the puck in the net, the Leafs have had fewer high danger scoring chances than their opponent in six of their eight games this season and have been outshot in five of eight.

In the net, Frederik Andersen has a lackluster .896 save percentage to go along with a 5-2-0 record. Backup Jack Campbell has fared much better this season, posting a 2-0-0 record with a .923 save percentage. Andersen will likely get the nod on Saturday.

Edmonton News & Notes

While fans of the Oilers are getting a little antsy as the team slips further behind in the standings, the team has not played particularly poorly of late. Of course, having two of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl doesn’t hurt. McDavid leads the league with 14 points through nine games and Draisaitl is tied for second with 13.

But as a team, the Oilers had more high danger scoring chances than their opponent in seven of their nine games this season including all three against the Leafs. Edmonton also has just two fewer total scoring chances than the Leafs in those three games.

But, like the Maple Leafs, the Oilers' issue is defense. Only two teams have allowed more goals this season than the Oilers and they have allowed more than 20 total scoring chances in seven of nine games.

In the net, goaltender Mikko Koskinen’s play continues to be an issue. Koskinen has played two more games than any other goalie this season, starting all nine for Edmonton, but has put up an .895 save percentage in that time.