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 York Rangers. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers
Time: 7:00 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: SNO, NHLN, MSGSN, TVAS
Tonight the Maple Leafs (36-20–2) are in the Big Apple to face another Original Six team fighting for a playoff spot, theRangers (29-25-4). This is only the second meeting of the season between these clubs. The Rangers won the first game 4-1 in Toronto. They have had similar weeks, each winning their last game on Tuesday, and each heading into tonight missing an important defenceman.
The Maple Leafs are 3-0-0 to start the unofficial second half of the NHL season. This has put them right in the middle of a battle for top spot in the Atlantic Division. Unfortunately, their comeback victory over the Boston Bruins came at a cost. Chris Tanev was injured early in the first period and did not return. He is now out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
In Tanev’s absence Morgan Rielly had arguably his best game of the season playing over 27 minutes and registering four points. The Maple Leafs will be hoping for more of this as the return date of Tanev remains unclear. Two more areas to watch for Toronto. William Nylander didn’t play in overtime on Tuesday with what looked like an injury. He didn’t skate due to a scheduled maintenance day. His status is up in the air. Secondly the goalie rotation leads to a Joseph Woll start tonight.
The positivity surrounding two straight wins was nullified after New York announced that former Norris Trophy winning defenceman Adam Fox was being placed on injured reserve after he left the game against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. The hope is he will be back before the end of the regular season but it doesn’t sound short term. He was leading the Rangers in average ice time so multiple defenceman will have to step up. To make matters worse K’Andre Miller skated in a non-contact jersey at practice yesterday. Miller did take part in line rushes so that could be a positive sign.
It is not all bad news for the Rangers. The return of J.T. Miller has provided a big boost up front. He has nine points in eight games. More importantly he seems to have reinvigorated Mika Zibanejad who has 11 points since Miller has become his centreman. They will have a new power-play quarterback with Fox out, but their offence will need to continue if the Rangers want to keep pushing for the playoffs.
There are plenty of injury questions on both teams entering tonight’s game. Will Nylander play for the Leafs? Will either Miller play for the Rangers with K’Andre in non-contact jersey at practice and J.T. sick? Toronto has more depth to overcome their missing players so that should be an advantage for them. These are both very different teams from their first meeting on October 19th so their could be a feeling out process to start. In the end the Maple Leafs should be able to stretch their win streak to four games.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 4-2.
For Toronto Nicholas Robertson has been hot scoring three goals in his last two games. He is a streaky player so ride that hot streak. He is + 500 as an anytime goal scorer. For the Rangers look at Zibanejad for 1+ points. He could continue his 4 game point streak tonight. Odds are currently at -130. The Maple Leafs are -118 on the moneyline.
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Main Photo: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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