The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to snap a two-game losing streak when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday as strong -245 favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
With goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Garret Sparks both sidelined by injury, Toronto dropped a 4-3 decision to Minnesota in a Thursday afternoon date and has now surrendered four goals in three of four outings ahead of Saturday’s game at Scotiabank Arena.
Andersen has been on the shelf for four games after seeing the strongest start of his six-year NHL career briefly derailed by a groin injury, while Sparks missed Toronto’s loss to the Wild as -160 chalk at sports betting sites due to a suspected concussion. That has left netminding duties in the hands of veteran Michael Hutchinson, who has now surrendered four or more goals in four of five appearances this season.
With Hutchinson set to start for Toronto on Saturday, totals bettors might be attracted to the OVER, which has prevailed in 12 of the Maple Leafs’ past 16 outings according to the OddsShark NHL Database. However, goal production has been an issue for the Canucks, who travel to Toronto as +200 underdogs.
Vancouver’s 2-0 defeat in Montreal as a +170 bet on Thursday marked the team’s third shutout loss in six games. Rookie Elias Pettersson is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury injury, further complicating the Canucks’ bid to claim their first win in Toronto since December 2011.
Elsewhere on the Saturday NHL odds, the Flames continue a four-game road trip with an afternoon date in Philadelphia as -125 favourites, while the Ottawa Senators look to end a six-game slide as they host the Wild as +145 underdogs.
As well, the Montreal Canadiens look for their sixth win in seven outings as they host the Nashville Predators as narrow -120 betting favourites, while Saturday’s nightcap has the Edmonton Oilers looking to post consecutive wins for the first time since December 11 as they visit the Los Angeles Kings as slender -115 chalk.
The Flames are coming off a 6-4 loss in Boston as +135 underdogs but have racked up 17 total goals over their past three contests, and have averaged four goals per game while taking three of four from the Flyers who have scored just 10 times during a five-game slide.
The Senators have given up a whopping 4.66 goals per game during their current swoon, and have fallen to defeat in five of their last seven home dates, while the Oilers try to build on Wednesday’s 3-1 win in Arizona, which halted a six-game losing streak.
[relatedlinks]
