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.
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