Well, it looks like the Maple Leafs figured things out last night. They thumped the upstart Islanders 7-1 on the first half of a back-to-back and will travel to Ohio to match up with the Blue Jackets as Toronto looks to improve its record on the back end of back-to-backs to 5-2 in its last seven. The Leafs will try to take advantage of a Jackets team that’s seen its miraculous run of results come to an end and that’s gone 0-5 against the spread in its last five home games.
- The visiting team is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games in this matchup.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Blue Jackets' last 8 games at home.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the Maple Leafs' last 8 games with no days off between games.
Toronto’s win last night was impressive for many reasons. Yes, they scored seven goals and, yes, they gave up just one but what’s most impressive to me is the team they did it against. The Islanders were 8-2-2 in their first 12 games under interim head coach Doug Weight but were brought back down to earth by the Leafs. In the win, the Maple Buds got their special teams working again as they killed all four of the penalties they took and even scored once on the power play.
The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, have allowed a power play goal in five of their last six games and could be out-youthed by the piss-’n’-vinegar Leafs tonight if Sergei Bobrovsky doesn’t figure it out. The former Vezina Sportsbook has been bad in 2017 and has posted a pretty gross .901 save percentage in his six February starts.
We’ve seen this Leafs team roll when the offense heats up and I expect that trend to continue. These are two of the highest-scoring teams in the NHL and with both of their defenses floundering a bit, there’s an excellent chance this game goes OVER.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Toronto Maple Leafs have seen them go 26-18-11 so far this season, while the Blue Jackets are at 35-15-5. In totals betting, the Columbus Blue Jackets are 22-29-4, while the Maple Leafs are 25-29-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Columbus vs Toronto injuries news.
The NHL Power Rankings at Odds Shark show the No. 5-rated Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the No. 24-rated Columbus Blue Jackets in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Columbus Blue Jackets No. 5-ranked offense (3.22 goals per game) against a Toronto Maple Leafs defense that ranks No. 22 at 2.95 goals per game allowed. The Blue Jackets Sportsbook has clicked at a 22.73% rate while the Maple Leafs have a 84.27% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Maple Leafs were a 7-1 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Islanders. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Toronto at -139 on the moneyline, while the total score (8) was good news for OVER bettors.
Columbus was a 3-2 loser in its last match at home against the Rangers. They lost as favorites, while the total score of 5 made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors.
- Toronto is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games at home
- Toronto is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Toronto is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
- Toronto is 13-2 ATS in its last 15 games on the road
- Columbus is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- Columbus is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games
- Columbus is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Toronto home to Ottawa, Saturday, February 18th
Columbus home to Pittsburgh, Friday, February 17th
