The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to extend their longest winning streak of the season to six games when they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday as heavy -320 favourites on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Powered by the record-setting play of netminder Jack Campbell, Toronto has effectively shut down opposing shooters, allowing just 1.89 goals per game during the torrid 8-0-1 run the team takes into Saturday night's matchup at Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto's current surge extends to recent games played on home ice, where the team has gone 3-0-1 over its past four contests. That marks a dramatic turnaround for the club after posting just two wins in their previous six dates at Scotiabank Arena. However, the Maple Leafs have been far from dominant this season against the Senators, who enter Saturday's action as +260 underdogs at online betting sites.
The last-place Senators have enjoyed moderate success in Battle of Ontario matchups this season, winning three of seven. However, the club has fallen to defeat in six of its past eight overall visits to Toronto. And with the Ottawa offence struggling to produce during a three-game losing streak, the Senators face a massive task to reverse that track record. Overall, the Senators have lost five of six, getting limited to two or fewer goals on four occasions during that stretch, which has fuelled a steady 8-2 run for the UNDER in totals betting.
Elsewhere on the Saturday NHL odds, the Montreal Canadiens will be trying to snap a two-game slide as they close out a two-game set with the Winnipeg Jets as -140 home favourites. Later in the evening, the Edmonton Oilers will wrap up a four-game road trip in Calgary as -110 betting chalk.
The Canadiens have failed to seize the opportunity to gain ground in the divisional standings this week, losing three of four, capped by Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Jets. Consistency has eluded Montreal on home ice, where they have posted wins in just five of their past 13 contests.
The Jets, meanwhile, have been steady on the road, winning five of their past six outings away from home. The club has also been reliable in recent trips to the Bell Centre, winning five of seven overall, and two of three this season.
The Oilers arrive in Calgary on a high after completing the season sweep of the Senators with Thursday's 3-1 win in Ottawa, snapping a middling 2-3-2 run on the road. The Flames have seen their playoff hopes fade dramatically while losing eight of nine, and have been outscored by a 25-13 margin while losing five of six to Edmonton.
