Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils
Time: 7:00 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: TSN4, ESPN+, HULU
The Toronto Maple Leafs (16-9–2) head to Newark to face the New Jersey Devils (18-10-2) for the second game of the three game season series. The Maple Leafs beat the Devils 4-2 in New Jersey on October 10, 2024. Exactly two months later the Devils will be looking for revenge. With each team coming off losses they will both be looking to get back to their winning ways.
Toronto Trying to Bounceback
For the first time since October the Toronto Maple Leafs have lost two straight games in regulation. Losing is part of a long regular season. How the Leafs respond to this minor setback is what most people will be interested in. Two areas for the Maple Leafs will be key to victory tonight. The first is the power play. Once again it has stalled since Auston Matthews has returned to the lineup, only going 2-11. The problem seems to be how predictable the five-forward unit becomes with the captain in the lineup. The other important area for the Leafs will be finding some depth scoring. Getting some reinforcements back should help solve that problem. Max Pacioretty returned against the Pittsburgh Penguins and it sounds like Max Domi could return soon too.
Key Notes
A fun note to watch tonight is Anthony Stolarz returning home. He was suppose to play in New Jersey earlier in the season but, Joseph Will’s preseason injury changed those plans. It would be even better for Stolarz if Jake McCabe returned and he had his top defensive pair back in front of him.
Devils in The Middle of a Homestand
Tonight’s game against Toronto is the third of a five game homestand for New Jersey. In the first two games they went 1-1-0 beating the Seattle Kraken before being shutout by the Colorado Avalanche. The Devils are 7-6-2 at home during the 2024-25 NHL season so far. If they want to get back into the win column they will need to play to their strengths. One of those strengths is their high flying offence. The Devils have scored over 100 goals on the year as a team and are lead by two of the top-20 point scorers in the NHL in Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes. Both these players are integral parts of one of the very best power plays in the league. They each have 17 power play points boosting their offensive output.
This level of scoring has taken some of the pressure off the New Jersey goalies. Led by Jacob Markstrom the Devils are also top-10 in goals against, right behind Toronto. Markstrom allowed four goals against on twenty-two shots in the first game against the Maple Leafs so he will be looking for a better performance if he gets the start tonight.
Prediction
These New Jersey Devils led by Sheldon Keefe look very similar to the teams he had in Toronto. Lots of offence and a good power play. Funny enough the Leafs no longer want to play that way. They don’t want to run and gun. They want to play low event hockey and hope they score just enough to win. New Jersey will poise a serious threat to that style. If they can put that lethal power play to work they will make it tough on the Maple Leafs top-10 penalty kill. Interestingly, Toronto has had plenty of success in New Jersey in recent years so that is a trend the Devils would most certainly like to stop.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 3-2 in overtime
Prop Bets of The Night
A couple of longer shot anytime goal scorers for tonights game to keep an eye on. Timo Meier has scored six goals in fourteen games against Toronto. However, four of those goals have come in five games as a Devil. He is +240 as an anytime goal scorer on FanDuel Sportsbook. The Maple Leafs Max Pacioretty returned to the lineup in a top-six role. He is +340 as an anytime goal scorer tonight.
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Main Photo: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Dec.10 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.