Following their 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on October 25, the Leafs had it easy in their next game, blowing out the cellar-dwelling Buffalo Sabres Tuesday, 4-0. Up ahead for Toronto is a tussle with another struggling team in the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets are on a three-game skid no thanks to their bad defense that has allowed their opponents to score 14 goals over their last three outings. Their latest defeat was a 5-2 beating at the hands of the Ottawa Senators.
In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns both look for their second win in a row this season. You can read a preview of that game here.
[sc:NHLArticles ]Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus
When: Friday, October 31, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets– view all NHL lines
Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Phil Kessel continued his great play this season against Buffalo, scoring a goal and recording an assist but it was teammate Tyler Bozak, who got the first star. Along with an assist, Bozak also ended the Leafs’ five-game stretch futility on the man advantage by scoring a power play goal in the second period to put Toronto on the score sheet. After potting five goals on the PP through their first three games, the Leafs went silent, going 0-for-19 in the five games that followed.
[sc:NHL240 ]Toronto’s special teams can continue to find success against the Blue Jackets, who have surrendered six power play goals across their previous four games.
Goalie Jonathan Bernier was barely tested by the lethargic Buffalo offense that shot just 10 shots on goal. He’ll get tested more against Columbus, which averages 30.2 shots per game. Bernier has a 2.83 GAA and a .910 SV% in seven games played thus far this season.
Kessel tops the team with five goals and 10 points. Bozak, on the other hand, has been playing superb in the second line with David Clarkson and James van Riemsdyk. The center has four goals and six assists.
The under is 5-1 in the Leafs last six games overall.
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Betting on the Columbus Blue Jackets
Sergei Bobrovsky, expected to be a tough customer in front of Columbus’ net, hasn’t looked like a Vezina Trophy award winner, allowing 21 goals in eight games. Bobrovsky, however, was injured Monday in practice and will be absent for one to two weeks. Backup Curtis McElhinney will take his place in between the pipes, but even he hasn’t looked dependable for Columbus either.
McElhinney is 0-1 in two games with a 4.83 GAA and .863 SV%.
The goalies’ struggles, however, are being compounded by the team’s underperforming blue line. Of all the Jackets defensemen, Jack Johnson has been the most disappointing with a plus/minus of -7 followed by David Savard with -5. They must step up their play against Toronto, which has dynamic forwards in Bozak, Kessel, and van Riemsdyk among others.
On offense, Columbus will look for the top line trio of Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson and Scott Hartnell to do the damage against Toronto. Johansen and Atkinson are the team’s top scorers with five and four goals, respectively. Hartnell, meanwhile is the team’s top assist-man with nine.
The over is 3-1 in the Jackets’ last four games.
Writer’s Prediction
Toronto wins, 4-3.
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