Toronto Maple Leafs (29-16-8) vs. Arizona Coyotes (23-26-4)
The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night in a cross-conference NHL matchup. Our NHL picks and prediction preview breaks down the betting trends before making a free prediction on the hockey game. Let us break down their latest stats.
The Maple Leafs enter this game ice-cold, having lost five straight while scoring just six total goals over that span. Auston Matthews leads the team with 48 goals and 71 points, but Toronto will need increased production from William Nylander (28 goals, 71 points) and Mitchell Marner (22 goals, 62 points) to break out of this slump.
The Coyotes have won two of their last five games, led by Clayton Keller’s 21 goals and 49 points along with Nick Schmaltz’s 14 goals and 31 points. However, Arizona allows the fourth-most goals per game in the league at 3.59. So Toronto’s elite scorers like Matthews, Nylander and Marner should still have chances to end their scoring drought against the porous Coyotes defense.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Arizona Coyotes Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Mullett Arena |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov vs. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka
Ilya Samsonov has appeared in 23 games for the Maple Leafs this season, compiling a record of 11-4-6 with a 3.25 goals against average. His save percentage sits at .881, allowing over three goals per contest. If Toronto has any chance at a road upset, Samsonov will need to improve on those numbers against an Arizona team that averages 3.06 goals per game.
Meanwhile, Karel Vejmelka has started 24 games in net for the Coyotes, with a record of just 6-13-2. He possesses a 3.48 goals against average and .896 save percentage on the year. Vejmelka faces plenty of rubber playing behind Arizona’s porous defense, which allows 3.59 goals per game. He will need to stand tall to give his team a chance against Toronto’s offensive firepower.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds for this matchup remain TBD, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the game. However, insights into team performances and recent trends can guide bettors towards informed decisions.
Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Trends
The Maple Leafs are clearly struggling at the moment, going 0-5 straight up and against the spread over their last five outings. The under has hit in all five of those contests as well, as Toronto has had major difficulty scoring goals. The Leafs’ road record against the spread is ugly as well at 8-16 this season. Backing Toronto requires betting on the talent level, eventually regressing positively.
Arizona Coyotes Betting Trends
The Coyotes have been reasonably competitive of late, covering three of their last five matchups. Arizona’s against the spread record on home ice has been profitable for bettors this season at 14-12. The over has hit in 14 of the Coyotes’ 27 home tilts in 2023-2024. Facing the Maple Leafs’ struggling but talented roster, Arizona seems likely to surrender plenty of goals on Wednesday night.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Arizona Coyotes 2/21/24 Betting Picks
The game presents a complex scenario for bettors, with the Maple Leafs’ offensive strength counterbalanced by recent performance issues and the Coyotes’ potential for upset. Given the trends and individual performances, the matchup appears closer than standings suggest.
Given Toronto’s potency but recent struggles, and Arizona’s ability to punch above their weight at home, this game could prove tighter than expected. Success for either side will depend on whether Toronto can overcome their recent woes while Arizona stands up their goaltending against any challengers.
Even with their recent struggles, Toronto still possesses enough offensive depth and talent to be competitive against Arizona, especially if their key players play up to their potential. Expect an extremely close contest as Arizona may take advantage of home advantage to exploit Toronto’s recent inconsistency. Given both teams’ offensive prowess and defensive issues, betting over may be worth your while when considering online sports betting.
