Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs 08/04/20 – Odds and NHL Betting Trends
3 years ago
by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post
The Toronto Maple Leafs might need to be faded until they figure out a way to avoid playing into the Columbus Blue Jackets’ hand. The Maple Leafs are -145 home favourites with the Blue Jackets coming back as a +125 underdog and there is a 5.5-goal total on the NHL odds for Tuesday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Maple Leafs come into a socially distanced Scotiabank Arena having gone 0-3 in their last three playoff games as a home favourite. They also have a 2-8 record in their last 10 games as a home favourite of -140 to -170 on the moneyline, with the total finishing UNDER seven times. The Blue Jackets are 11-9 in their last 20 games (away and home) as an underdog, with the total finishing UNDER 14 times.
Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs | OddsShark Matchup Report
Columbus leads the best-of-five qualifying series 1-0 by virtue of a 2-0 win in Game 1 on Sunday. In that contest, the Blue Jackets illustrated why they had the NHL’s third-best goals-against record during the abbreviated regular season, as their successful neutral zone clogging inhibited Toronto’s free-flowing style.
Cornerstone defensemen Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, who both logged over 25 minutes of ice time, were each only on the ice for eight shots against, including just six at even strength. Bettors will have to decide how long they can keep that up. The Columbus power play was 0-for-2.
Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo’s 28-save shutout improved his career record against Toronto to 6-3 in nine starts.
For the Maple Leafs, this is only their second matchup in their last 30 games with a 5.5-goal total, which is indicative of how the Columbus forcefield may have altered expectations. On Sunday, though, their top two centers had their opportunities. Auston Matthews had a team-most six shots on goal while John Tavares was credited with being on the ice for a team-most 29 shot attempts during even-strength play.
Talented right wing Mitch Marner did not have a shot on goal, and first-pair defenseman Morgan Rielly ended up in the red in chances for/against. The lack of power plays – Toronto was 0-for-1 – also raises questions about whether Toronto will be able to make more of its offensive talent.
Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen stopped 33 of 34 shots on Sunday, with Columbus’ second goal going into an empty net. That performance, for one game at least, allayed concerns about Andersen having a slow start after a 20-week layoff.
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