Penguins vs. Maple Leafs Prediction
Two of the most high-powered offenses in the NHL will do battle tonight when the Pittsburgh Penguins play at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can the Penguins carve out a road win in a hostile environment?
Game Snapshot
31 Pittsburgh Penguins at 32 Toronto Maple Leafs
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Scotiabank Arena at 7:05PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, The Maple Leafs are a -135 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Penguins are a +115 underdog, while the over-under is set at 6.5 goals. As of Saturday morning, 58 percent of public bets are siding with host Toronto. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Guentzel, Rust score twice in win
Pittsburgh secured a 5-3 home victory Friday night over Ottawa to improve to 28-17-6 on the season. Teddy Blueger gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead early in the first period on his first goal of the season assisted by Matt Cullen. Jake Guentzel made it 2-0 with 2:05 left in the first on assists by Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Bryan Rust pushed the lead to three goals on assists from Phil Kessell and Nick Bjugstad later in the period. The Senators got on the board with a goal at the five-minute mark of the second, but Rust scored again eight-plus minutes into the third on assists from Phil Kessel and Jack Johnson. Ottawa managed to cut it to a one-goal game, but Guentzel put it away with his 26th goal of the season as Crosby and Brian Dumoulin assisted. Casey DeSmith made 37 saves on 40 shots in the winning effort.
Leafs fall in OT at Wings
Toronto suffered a 3-2 loss in overtime Friday night at Detroit to fall to 30-17-3 on the season. After a scoreless first period, the Red Wings got on the board first in the second but Auston Matthews tied it at 1-1 with 1:49 left in the period. Patrick Marleau assisted on the goal. The Maple Leafs fell behind 2-1 with under seven minutes remaining, but eventually tied it up again as Marleau scored on assists courtesy of Matthews and Morgan Rielly. The Red Wings produced the game-winner 2:40 into overtime. Frederik Andersson allowed three goals on 33 shots in the defeat.
NHL Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Penguins are 5-0 in their last five games versus the Atlantic Division. Pittsburgh is 9-1 in its last 10 versus the Eastern Conference.
Toronto
The Maple Leafs are 5-2 in the last seven meetings. Toronto is 1-4 in its last five home games.
Prediction:
Toronto has struggled at home lately and with both teams playing last night, neither has a rest advantage. The Maple Leafs lost at lowly Detroit, however, and are matched in firepower by the Penguins. With Pittsburgh being in better form at the moment, I’m going to take a show on the visitors at plus money as Matt Murray will be in goal for this one while Toronto might possibly go with a backup.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: BALTIMORE ORIOLES -120