Bobby McMann has been amazing for the Buds this season, and with him projected to get time on the top line tonight, his points prop holds immense value.
NHL
We’ve got eight games on the NHL betting slate today, including an Eastern Conference clash between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre.
With Matthew Knies out tonight, Bobby McMann becomes the topic of my Maple Leafs vs. Senators predictions as he gets a shot on the red-hot top line.
Find out more in my free NHL picks for this January 25 matchup.
My Leafs pick
Bobby McMann Over 0.5 points (-115 at Sports Interaction)
My Leafs analysis
The Toronto Maple Leafs look to get back into the win column after losing 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday night.
The loss stung even more since the team lost one of their top-line forwards, Matthew Knies, who left the game with an injury and never returned. He’s also been ruled out for tonight’s contest against the Senators, which means opportunity comes knocking for someone else.
The player tasked to replace Knies with top-line duties tonight is Bobby McMann, who will be the focus of tonight’s best bet.
McMann has been fairly consistent all season with 14 points over his last 19 games, largely skating in the middle six with sparing power play time.
Now he gets a shot to ride alongside a red-hot Auston Matthews, who’s in the midst of a five-game goal streak, and Mitch Marner, who has 16 points in his last 10 outings.
The 27-year-old Leafs sophomore will be asked to play a similar game to Knies, too — forecheck, retrieve loose pucks, and head to the net. This style of play has resulted in seven goals and 12 points in Knies’ last nine games prior to the injury. So the expectation will be for McMann to do the same things, and the production should follow.
Additionally, McMann is also now getting first power play time as part of the five-forward unit. The Buds have scored four times on the man advantage in as many games and hope to continue that success tonight against the Sens’ 18th-ranked penalty kill that is operating at just a 78% kill rate.
Bobby McMann 2+ shots
Auston Matthews 3+ shots
Auston Matthews anytime goalscorer
McMann has recorded two or more shots in 30 of his 41 games played this season for a 73% hit rate. I’d imagine with top-line minutes and power play time, he’ll easily find a way to register two shots.
Matthews is averaging 3.94 shots per game and has hit this mark in three of his last four outings and 10 of the previous 12 meetings against Ottawa.
Matthews is shooting with accuracy and authority again, with nine goals in his last 10 games since returning from his re-aggravated injury. He’s also scored seven times against Ottawa over the previous eight meetings.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
The Under is a combined 14-6 between the two clubs in their last 10 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Senators.
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Mike DiStefano joins Covers after a successful five-year stint with TSN. Distefano hosted Leafs Lunch, a Toronto Maple Leafs-centric radio show which featured a daily best bets segment where he found the biggest and best value plays of the night. He was also a weekly staple on TSN’s flagship radio/tv show “OverDrive” as a betting analyst during their NFL picks segment #TeamAl-DogForever.
A graduate of Centennial College’s Sports Journalism program, Mike has also contributed to the Canadian Baseball Network, FanSided, and The Hockey News.
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