Tag: Blue Jackets Maple Leafs betting odds lines picks best bets

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets play Game 4 of their best-of-five Eastern Conference qualification round series Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. We analyze the Maple Leafs-Blue Jackets NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

Series: Blue Jackets lead 2-1.

Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets: Projected starting goalies

Frederik Andersen vs. Elvis Merzlikins

Andersen was staked to a 3-0 lead in Game 3, and things looked like they were trending in the right direction for the Leafs. Blue Jackets C Pierre-Luc Dubois had other ideas. He scored two goals in regulation before poking in the game-winner in overtime at 18:24 for a 4-3 victory, turning what looked like a certain win into a loss for the Leafs. Andersen gave up four goals on 43 shots.

Joonas Korpisalo allowed three goals on 15 shots by the mid-point of the second period. While only one of the goals was his fault, a greasy goal which should have been snared off the stick of Toronto LW Nick Robertson, Columbus head coach John Tortorella decided to shake things up and give Merzlikins a shot. That’s when things turned around. While nothing is official, you can expect Merzlikins to get the starting nod in Game 4 after he didn’t allow a goal on 21 shots in relief.

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Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 7:35 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Maple Leafs 3, Blue Jackets 2

Moneyline (ML)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-175) were pushed to the brink in Game 3, which was a tale of two games. They were leading 3-0 mid-way through the second period, then the Blue Jackets (+150) changed their goaltender and changed their fortunes.

The Leafs were playing with desperation up until they built their big lead, then they seemed to relax. Don’t expect the Leafs to let their guard down in Game 4. If they do, they’ll be excused from the bubble.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Maple Leafs (-175) to win in regulation or overtime returns a profit of $5.70.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

It’s an elimination game, and you cannot trust the Maple Leafs -1 (-106) to win by 2 or more goals, nor is it prudent to bet the Blue Jackets +1 (-115) due to the less profitable price point. While this should be another hotly contested contest, similar to Game 3, betting the Jackets for insurance is too risky. AVOID, and bet the moneyline instead.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 5.5 (-133) looked like it was well on its way to cashing in Game 3, but then both offenses caught fire. Well, the Leafs offense heated up early, and Dubois heated up late for the Jackets.

We’ll likely see a low-scoring game Friday, as the Jackets do not take a lot of silly chances to give the Leafs scoring opportunities the other way. Toronto has the potential to hit these Overs by itself, but for some reason, its big guns just aren’t firing.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets meet in an important Game 3 in their best-of-five Eastern Conference qualification round series Thursday at 8 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, one of two hub locations for the NHL restart. We analyze the Blue Jackets-Maple Leafs’ NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

Series: Tied 1-1.

Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets: Projected starting goalies

Frederik Andersen vs. Joonas Korpisalo

Andersen was able to return the favor in Game 2, posting a shutout victory after his team was blanked in the series opener. It was his third-career playoff shutout. Things weren’t all great for Andersen and the Leafs, however, as defenseman Jake Muzzin went down with an apparent upper-body injury in a collision, and he was taken off on a stretcher. While he was discharged from the hospital, which is the good news, the bad news is that he is out for the remainder of the series, quarantining in the team’s hotel.

Korpisalo battled Elvis Merzlikins hard during training camp, just edging out the rookie and fan favorite for the starting job. The move by head coach John Tortorella paid off, as Korpisalo picked up a 28-save shutout in Game 1, the first in franchise history during the playoffs. He held the Maple Leafs powerful offense down until 16:00 of the second period when Auston Matthews finally broke through. John Tavares, who has been visibly upset at times with the tight checking and suffocating defense of the Jackets, also broke through at 4:56 in the third, helping square the series.

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Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Thursday at 8:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Maple Leafs 3, Blue Jackets 2

Moneyline (ML)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-150) will look to take the upper hand in Game 3, taking a step toward the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. However, nobody in blue and white is looking ahead, as there is plenty of work to be done. Still, you have to love the Leafs playing in their own building, dressing in the familiarity of their locker room and being in their own town. After a wake-up call in Game 1, they’ll continue to work hard and step on the gas here.

New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Maple Leafs to win returns a profit of $6.67.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Maple Leafs (-1.5, +185) are an awfully tempting play on the puck line, but the goaltending has ruled the day in this series. While each of the first two games haven’t been one-goal games, you can expect one here. There will also be no shutout, but we will still have a low-scoring, defensive battle.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-129) has cashed in the first two games in this series, so why stop thumping the Under now? Korpisalo and Andersen have been on point in Games 1 and 2, and they’ll continue to look sharp in Game 3. Hit the Under, and don’t look back.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs continue their best-of-five Eastern Conference qualification round series Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, one of two hub locations for the NHL restart. We analyze the Blue Jackets-Maple Leafs NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

Series: Blue Jackets lead 1-0.

Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies

Joonas Korpisalo vs. Frederik Andersen

Making his first career playoff start, Korpisalo turned aside all 28 shots he faced in a 2-0 victory in the series opener. It was quite an impressive shutout considering the fact the Leafs were third in the NHL during the regular season with 237 goals. In addition, Columbus was 0-1-1 in two meetings during the regular season, and Korpisalo just barely edged out rookie Elvis Merzlikins in training camp for the starting job. There won’t be any doubt as to the starter in Game 2.

Andersen was equal to the task for the first two periods, but Cam Atkinson beat the Dane early in the third period to break the ice. That’s all Andersen would allow, as his offense gave him absolutely no support. Alexander Wennberg added an empty-net goal, but that obviously doesn’t go on Andersen’s ledger.

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Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Maple Leafs 3, Blue Jackets 1

Moneyline (ML)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-154) scored more goals than just two other teams in the NHL, yet mustered a goose egg on their home ice? That won’t happen again. We saw this movie last season with the Blue Jackets (+130) stunning the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. Are we going to see the sequel? It’s doubtful, as Toronto should be able to bounce back against a goalie with just one career playoff start under his belt.

New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Maple Leafs to win returns a profit of $6.49, while a $10 wager on the Blue Jackets results in a profit of $13.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-1.5, +170) laid a major egg in Game 1, so playing them on the puck line is risky business. However, just like we saw the Pittsburgh Penguins rebound in Game 2 against the heavy underdog Montreal Canadiens, we’ll see the Leafs make amends for their ugly opening loss with a bounce-back victory by at least two goals.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-121) is the way to go here. Toronto had the shackles thrown on its superstar forwards in Game 1, but it should break out somewhat. Andersen will have to be superb again in Game 2, and he will be. Look for a defensive battle.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs battle Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-five Qualifying Series round at 8 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, one of two hub locations for the NHL restart. We analyze the Blue Jackets-Maple Leafs’ NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs: Projected starting goalies

Joonas Korpisalo/Elvis Merzlikins vs. Frederik Andersen

Korpisalo posted a 19-12-5 record, 2.60 goals against average and .911 save percentage across 35 starts and two relief appearances en route to his first All-Star nod. He was rolling along as the replacement to Sergei Bobrovsky, who left via free agency for the Florida Panthers. However, Korpisalo was injured in late December, missing nearly two months due to a knee injury. Merzlikins quickly became a star, posting a 13-9-8 record, 2.35 GAA and .923 SV% across 31 starts and two relief stints. Coach John Tortorella hasn’t tipped his hand on the starting netminder, but either way, the Jackets will have a pretty good one in the blue ice.

The Leafs have no such quandaries in their crease, as Andersen posted a 29-13-7 record, 2.85 GAA and .909 SV% with three shutouts in 52 starts. This team will go only as far as Andersen can take it in the postseason, and to date, that hasn’t been far. He is winless in three playoff series as a member of the Leafs. Andersen went 1-0-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .925 SV%, stopping 62 of 67 shots, in two regular-season meetings against the Jackets this season.

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Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday at 5:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Maple Leafs 4, Blue Jackets 2

Moneyline (ML)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-162) are heavy favorites on their home ice, although with no fans in the bubble, the advantage of being home is somewhat mitigated. Still, don’t think for one moment that playing in their own barn, dressing in their own room and being around their own amenities in their own town won’t play some sort of a factor … at least early on in these playoffs. The Jackets (+135) stunned the No. 1 seed Tampa Bay Lightning last season, sweeping them for Columbus’ first franchise playoff series win. Success will not be duplicated here, especially in Game 1.

New to sports betting? A winning $10 bet on the Maple Leafs to win returns a profit of $6.17, while a $10 wager on the Blue Jackets results in a profit of $13.50.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The MAPLE LEAFS (-1.5, +155) are worth a small-unit wager on the puck line, although confidence is not terribly high. It might take an empty-net goal to win the puck-line bet, as Columbus is a solid defensive club with two strong, young netminders capable of getting hot. However, the Leafs boast two No. 1 caliber scoring lines, and it will be too much for the Jackets to handle.

Over/Under (O/U)

The O/U 6 – with -110 odds on both sides – is likely to result in a PUSH. I am expecting a 3-2 game late, with an empty-net goal as the final tally. This won’t be a defensive battle, but it won’t be a high-scoring game either. It will be just right, and exactly on the total. AVOID.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI on Twitter. Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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