Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. In this round of NHL Predictions, we are looking at the game between the Edmonton Oilers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Edmonton Oilers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: SN, CBC, NHLN
Connor McDavid will lead his Edmonton Oilers (9-7-1) into his hometown to face the Toronto Maple Leafs (10-6-2) for their only visit to Toronto this season. This is the first of two games between these Canadian clubs with the next game not scheduled until February. The Oilers will be looking to make a statement to the national TV audience that they are just as good as last year. Will the Maple Leafs be up to the challenge?
McDavid on a Multipoint Streak
There is a lot to celebrate for Connor McDavid as he returns home. He just recorded his 1000th point against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. He has also recorded multipoint games in three straight entering tonight. Most importantly his Oilers are riding a three-game winning streak and starting to break out from their early season slump. This is starting to resemble the team that many preseason prognosticators had as Stanley Cup favourites.
While the good vibes are starting to grow in Edmonton the winning ways aren’t without areas of improvement. Even with McDavid heating up the offence has lost some pop only averaging 2.76 goals a game. A lot of this can be attributed to the lack of secondary scoring from everyone not named McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. This has been a year-long issue in need of improvement. Another area is blown leads. In their last two wins, they blew third-period leads before being victorious in overtime. While the Maple Leafs haven’t had many third-period comebacks on the season, they did in their last game. This should be an area of focus for the Oilers.
Toronto Struggling at 5-on-5
The Toronto Maple Leafs will once again be without Auston Matthews robbing hockey fans of the McDavid vs. Matthews matchup. Matthews’ absence has caused the Maple Leafs to struggle to produce at 5-on-5. They have only scored three goals at 5-on-5 in their last six games. This will need to be corrected in short order as the Leafs begin a three game home stand tonight.
Thankfully for Toronto their special teams has carried them to a 4-1-1 record in those six games. They will have the special teams advantage against the Oilers in this game tonight. Their power play that is starting to perform as expected will be up against the last ranked penalty kill in the NHL. The Maple Leafs will need to make Edmonton pay when they get their chances. Surprisingly the Oilers power play is ranked outside the top twenty. With all the firepower Edmonton has the Maple Leafs top ten penalty killing unit will still be in tough. If they can come through with some big kills it should put them in a good spot to win.
NHL Predictions Oilers and Leafs
The Maple Leafs have won their last three home games against the Oilers by multiple goals each time. With their recent 5-on-5 struggles Toronto may not be able to do that for a fourth time in a row. Expect this game to be close. Toronto will need to win the special teams battle. For the Oilers all eyes will be on McDavid but he will need help. An important matchup to watch for both teams will be the McDavid line vs the Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev pair. Whoever gets the upper hand will give their team the better chance to win.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 3-2
Prop Bets of The Night
Even if the Oilers lose expect McDavid to put on a show. A same game parlay including the Toronto Maple Leafs winning on the moneyline, under 6.5 goals being scored, and Connor McDavid scoring an anytime goal has odds of +1687 on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Main Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
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