Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs Pick
Are the Columbus Blue Jackets and host Toronto Maple Leafs going to play a high-scoring game tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Maple Leafs are set as a -180 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Blue Jackets are a +160 underdog, while the total is set at 5.5 goals.
Columbus enters with a 24-16-0-3 record after a 3-2 shootout win at home Sunday over the Panthers. Toronto is 25-16-1-1 following a 3-2 home shootout win against Vancouver on Saturday. The Blue Jackets won the first meeting this season on their home ice by a count of 4-2 on Dec. 20. Columbus is 3-1 in four meetings since the start of the 2016-17 campaign. The over has gone 3-1.
The Blue Jackets’ clincher in the shootout win versus Florida was put in by Josh Anderson. Artemi Panarin and Jack Johnson also found the back of the net in the shootout, which was won by via 3-2 tally. In regulation, Pierre-Luc Dubois led the way with a goal and an assist. Nick Foligno also notched a goal and an assist. Seth Jones dished out two assists. The Blue Jackets led 2-1 through two periods, but gave up the tying goal with 1:34 remaining. Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves on 44 shots to notch the victory.
Toronto received shootout scores from Auston Matthews and Tyler Bozak, while Frederik Andersen saved two of three attempts sent his way to clinch the win. Matthews and Bozak also scored the regulation goals for the Maple Leafs in the third period, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 2-2 tie. Andersen registered 34 saves on 36 shots to pick up the win.
Columbus is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Toronto and 5-1 in the last six meetings overall. The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
Bet on Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs’ high-powered offense should be able to find the back of the net a few times, but their defense has a tendency to let them down. Expect Columbus to also find some easy offense and send this contest to the over on the total.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: BLUE JACKETS/MAPLE LEAFS OVER 5.5