Maple Leafs vs. Jets Prediction
The Toronto Maple Leafs are playing some of their best hockey of the season over the past few weeks. Can Toronto keep the positive momentum going tonight at the Winnipeg Jets?
Game Snapshot
63 Toronto Maple Leafs at Winnipeg Jets
Thursday, January 2, 2019
Bell MTS Place at 8:05PM ET
TV: TSN3
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Maple Leafs are a -135 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Jets are a +115 underdog, while the over-under sits at 6.5 goals. As of Thursday morning, 70 percent of public bets are being placed on visiting Toronto. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Maple Leafs ease past Wild
Toronto earned a 4-1 victory Tuesday night at Minnesota to improve to 22-14-5 on the season. Alexander Kerfoot gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 advantage with 14:05 to go in the first period off assists by John Tavares and Travis Dermott. William Nylander pushed it to 2-0 with 31 seconds to go in the second period on a goal assisted by Auston Matthews and Tyson Barrie. Matthews made it a 3-0 game with 11:26 to go in the second period on a power play tally off assists from Nylander and Mitch Marner. The Wild cut it to 3-1 late in the second, while Tavares put it away with an empty-net goal in the game’s final minute. Frederik Andersen secured the win as he gave up one goal on 27 shots.
Jets snap three-game skid
Winnipeg secured a 7-4 win Tuesday night at Colorado to move to 22-15-3 on the season. Blake Wheeler gave the Jets a 1-0 lead 6:25 into the first period off assists from Nikolaj Ehlers and Jack Roslovic. The Avs evened the score later in the first, but Winnipeg grabbed the lead again with 11:33 left in the second period on a Kyle Connor goal off a Mark Scheifele assist. Colorado tied it again on the power play with 6:13 to play in the second, while the Jets took the lead again a minute later on a Scheifele goal assisted by Neal Pionk. The Avalanche made it a 3-3 game on the power play with 12:45 to go in the third period, but the visitors grabbed the lead for good three-plus minutes later as Connor scored on the power play off Scheifele and Pionk assists. Connor scored again with 3:29 left to complete his power play with Patrik Laine and Scheifele assisting. Wheeler added a goal a minute later off Roslovic and Ehlers assists. After the Avs trimmed it to 6-4 in the final minute, Winnipeg answered with 12 seconds left on an Ehlers goal with assists courtesy of Roslovic and Wheeler. Connor Hellebuyck earned the win between the pipes as he allowed four goals on 43 shots.
NHL Betting Trends
Toronto
The Maple Leafs are 4-0 in their last four games as a road favorites. Toronto is 4-1 in its last five games versus the Western Conference.
Winnipeg
The Jets are 2-5 in their last seven games overall. Winnipeg is 0-4 in its last four Thursday games.
Prediction:
The Maple Leafs are finally resembling the team a lot of people expected them to be at the start of the season and I don’t see them slowing down here. Toronto’s offense can be overwhelming a lot of nights and it is finally getting some defensively consistency to go along with solid goaltending. The favorites have won six of the last eight meetings and I see that trend continuing tonight.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS -135