The Maple Leafs have dominated second-period scoring, and we'll see more of the same tonight against Utah.
This article contains predictions for an old game!
We have four games on the NHL betting slate tonight, including a cross-conference clash between the Utah Hockey Club and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Delta Center.
Toronto is one of the best second-period teams in the NHL this season, and my Maple Leafs vs. Utah predictions anticipate that trend will continue tonight.
Find out why in my free NHL picks for March 10.
My Leafs pick
Leafs second-period puck line -0.5 (+155 at Sports Interaction)
My Leafs analysis
The Toronto Maple Leafs make their first-ever trip to the Delta Center tonight to take on the Utah Hockey Club.
It hasn’t been a good start to their road trip — losing both games to kick it off in Vegas and Colorado — so the Buds should be eager to get back into the win column against a more inferior Utah squad.
Before this road trip, however, the Leafs had won 13 of their last 16 road games and have been the league’s best-traveling offense, netting nearly four goals per game in that stretch. The Leafs are hoping to channel that offense tonight.
This season, the most successful period for them has been the second frame, where the team has a +27 goal differential, outscoring opponents 79-52.
This is where the value lies in this matchup as I make my best bet the Maple Leafs covering the second-period puck line of -0.5 goals.
This has been a fruitful prop bet for quite some time now, cashing 49 times over their last 88 games (55%) for an 11% ROI per unit placed, per Covers NHL trends page. Considering the bet pays +155, which is an implied probability of 39%, that’s a fairly good value.
Especially since the second period in particular is a Leafs strength and a Utah weakness
Unlike the Buds, who rank second in second-period scoring with 79 goals this year, Utah struggles with the long change and have been outscored 56-69 — giving up more goals in the middle frame than any other period.
Give me the Leafs to win the second frame.
Maple Leafs moneyline
John Tavares 2+ shots
Mitch Marner 2+ shots
Toronto is 14-6 on the road in its last 20 games, with a +14 goal differential. The Hockey Club is sub-500 with a 12-13-6 home record this season, so I’ll take the Leafs to get back in the win column tonight.
John Tavares is averaging 2.67 shots per game this season and is likely to see more offensive zone starts down the stretch with Scott Laughton now anchoring a defensively responsible third line. He also had a season-high eight shots on goal in the first meeting against Utah this season.
Mitch Marner had four shots in the earlier meeting and has finished with two or more shots in eight of his last 12 outings.
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 64-54-8 combined between the two teams this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Utah Hockey Club.
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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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