The Colorado Avalanche (37-22-6) and Toronto Maple Leafs (40-18-8) meet Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Avalanche won as -258 favorites 8-4 at the Montreal Canadiens Monday. LW Artturi Lehkonen scored 2 goals for the Avalanche in just under 10 minutes of action before leaving the game with a broken finger. Lehkonen is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. The victory marked Colorado’s 3rd in its last 4 games.
The Maple Leafs lost as -229 home favorites 4-3 vs. the Buffalo Sabres Monday. Toronto took a 2-0 lead early in the 2nd period, but was outscored 4-0 and outshot 23-7 in the 27 minutes that followed.
This is the 2nd meeting this season between these teams. Toronto won as a -113 road favorite 6-2 as the Over (5.5) cashed Dec. 31.
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Avalanche at Maple Leafs odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Avalanche +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Maple Leafs -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche +1.5 (-210) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Avalanche at Maple Leafs projected goalies
Alexandar Georgiev (29-14-5, 2.65 GAA, .916 SV%, 4 SO) vs. Ilya Samsonov (23-8-2, 2.41 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO)
Georgiev allowed 5 goals on 24 shots vs. the Maple Leafs in the Dec. 31 loss. He’s 3-3-0 in 6 career starts vs. Toronto with a 3.75 GAA and .915 SV% (227 saves against 248 shots).
Samsonov faced the Avalanche twice last season as a member of the Washington Capitals and went 2-0-0, allowing 5 goals on 53 shots, good for a 2.50 GAA and .906 SV%. His only other career game vs. Colorado was a relief appearance for the Capitals on Oct. 14, 2019. Samsonov allowed 2 goals on 21 shots in the 6-3 home loss.
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Avalanche at Maple Leafs picks and predictions
Prediction
Maple Leafs 3, Avalanche 2
Moneyline
BET MAPLE LEAFS (-140).
Toronto is at a good price and should be able to bounce back after a disappointing loss vs. the Sabres. The Maple Leafs tend to play up to their level of competition and are 8-3 in their last 11 games vs. teams with a winning record. While the Avalanche are coming off an impressive performance last time out, Toronto is a hard place to win and the Maple Leafs are 37-14 in their last 51 home games.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
Colorado +1.5 (-210) should hit, but the Avalanche are slightly overvalued on the puck line. Bet the moneyline and/or total instead.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 6.5 (-105).
The Under is 17-7-3 in Colorado’s last 27 games vs. teams with a winning record and 19-7-3 in the Avalanche’s last 29 on the road.
These teams tend to play low-scoring games vs. each other in Toronto, with the Under going 7-3-1 in the last 11 meetings, and Wednesday’s matchup should be another low-scoring affair.
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