The Toronto Maple Leafs (5-4-1) and Columbus Blue Jackets (5-4-0) meet Wednesday. Puck drop from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Blue Jackets won 2-1
Toronto picked up a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames Tuesday as a moderate (-170) favorite as the Over (6) cashed. Forwards Max Domi and Matthew Knies each had 2 goals in the win. The Maple Leafs have won back-to-back games for just the second time this season, and it is looking for 3 wins in a row for the first time. The Over has cashed in 5 in a row, averaging 3.2 goals per game (GPG), while allowing 4.0 GPG in the 5-game span.
Columbus topped the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday. F Miles Wood scored the winner in overtime. It won its previous game on no rest, topping the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in a shootout on Oct. 25. The Jackets have won 4 of the past 5 games, averaging 3.6 GPG, and they have allowed 4.0 GPG in the past 3 outings.
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Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:53 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Maple Leafs -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Blue Jackets -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Maple Leafs -1.5 (+220) | Blue Jackets +1.5 (-275)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets projected goalies
Cayden Primeau (2-0-0, 3.46 GAA, .875 SV%) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (3-1-0, 2.96 GAA, .914 SV%)
After Anthony Stolarz allowed 3 goals on 29 shots in the 4-3 win over the Flames Tuesday, it’s all but likely Primeau makes his third start of the season. He has picked up 2 wins in 2 starts, but he has conceded 7 goals on 56 shots. He has yet to start on the road so far.
Merzlikins has picked up 3 wins in 4 starts, while allowing 3 or more goals in 3 of his 4 outings. He has appeared in just 1 game at home, a 4-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche, turning aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced on Oct. 16.
Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets picks and predictions
Prediction
Blue Jackets 4, Maple Leafs 3
The BLUE JACKETS (-115) are worth a look in this coin-flip game, as the goaltender scales are tipped in their favor.
Toronto has yet to win 3 games in a row this season, and the streak will continue on Wednesday evening in C-Bus.
The Blue Jackets +1.5 (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.
PASS, and if you like Columbus, just play it straight up.
OVER 6.5 (-120) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over has cashed in the past 2 games for Columbus, with a combined average of 8.0 GPG. However, the Under was 5-1-1 in the first 7 games, so proceed with caution.
For Toronto, though, the Over has cashed in 5 in a row, and 8 of the first 10 games this season, so that’s why going high is the best play.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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