The two hottest teams in the Eastern Conference will clash on Saturday, as the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Pittsburgh Penguins as +118 underdogs on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Toronto has cemented its third-place position in the Atlantic Division standings during a 10-2-0 run, and rides a five-game win streak into Saturday night’s Maple Leafs vs. Penguins betting matchup at PPG Paints Arena.
The Maple Leafs’ offence has fired on all cylinders during the team’s current surge, averaging 5.2 goals per game over their past five, capped by Wednesday’s 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets as -181 home favourites. Toronto has also reversed a recent 2-6-1 road slide with victories in four of five contests away from Air Canada Centre.
Despite now owning the fifth-best record in the NHL, the Maple Leafs have seen their Stanley Cup odds slip to +1500, a step back from the +900 odds they sported in mid-December.
Conversely, the Penguins have rocketed to +900 on those NHL futures during a 13-3-1 run that has lifted them to within three points of the Washington Capitals in the race for top spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Pegged as a -130 favorite on Saturday, Pittsburgh has claimed victory in 10 straight home contests while scoring a hefty five goals per game, but has seen the puck total go OVER in just three of its past six overall.
However, the Penguins have struggled in recent dates with Toronto. The Maple Leafs have posted wins in four of their last five meetings with the defending Stanley Cup champions, including a 4-3 victory as +113 underdogs in their last visit to Pittsburgh on December 9.
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Earlier on Saturday, the Ottawa Senators look to establish their first five-game home winning streak since December 2015 as they play host to the New York Rangers as narrow -110 chalk, while the Edmonton Oilers search for an end to a five-game losing streak as they visit the suddenly resurgent Arizona Coyotes as -110 favorites.
As well, worst visits first as the Montreal Canadiens take on the Vegas Golden Knights as +210 underdogs. The Canadiens have lost 11 of 12 contests away from Bell Centre and are now saddled with the NHL’s worst road record, while the Golden Knights’ 4-1 win over Edmonton as -194 chalk on Thursday marked their 21st victory in 26 dates at T-Mobile Arena.
The Vancouver Canucks are pegged as +162 underdogs as they host the Boston Bruins, while the Calgary Flames return home from a six-game road trip to face the Florida Panthers.
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