The Toronto Maple Leafs (43-19-9) and their clutch power play offense are on the road to take on the Carolina Hurricanes (46-16-8), one of the league’s top penalty killing teams, at PNC Arena on Saturday.Toronto is coming off a high-scoring 6-2 win over the Panthers on Thursday.
The Maple Leafs took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring once on four shots, while also conceding a power play goal. Auston Matthews was the top goalscorer for the Maple Leafs with two goals. John Tavares had three assists to lead the team in scoring.
Matt Murray had a great performance with 33 saves (.942%) in the win. Carolina fell 2-1 to the Rangers on Thursday. Sebastian Aho was the only player to score for the Hurricanes. Frederik Andersen saved only 14 of 16 shots against (.875%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Maple Leafs have won both games between the teams this season, including a 5-2 victory in their most recent meeting on March 17, their fourth straight win against Carolina. Four players had two points for Toronto. Brady Skjei and Martin Necas were on the scoresheet for Carolina. Ilya Samsonov got the win, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941%).
FACING OFF
Toronto is averaging 3.44 goals per game for the season, seventh in the NHL, and they are taking on a Hurricanes team that is allowing just 2.56 goals a game (2nd).
Meanwhile, Carolina has found the net 3.27 times a game on average, 13th in the league, and the Maple Leafs are allowing opponents to score 2.73 goals per game (7th).
Carolina averages more shots/game (34.9) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 9.5% shooting percentage is 23rd.
With an average of 31.6 attempts, Toronto ranks 15th. The Maple Leafs’ second-ranked power play offense (25.71%) will be put to the test against the Hurricanes, who are the league’s second-best penalty killing team (83.86%).
Carolina, meanwhile, has scored on 20.91% of their power play opportunities (16th), which the hosts will be aiming to improve on against Toronto’s 12th-ranked 81.22% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 92 points this season, sixth-most in the NHL, Mitchell Marner is the top skater for the Maple Leafs. He is among the league leaders with 64 assists (5th) and has added 28 goals of his own.
In the net, Samsonov (24-9-3) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.46 GAA and a .914% save percentage.
Necas leads the Hurricanes in scoring with 65 points. He has 27 goals and 38 assists. Pyotr Kochetkov (11-6-5) has the best goals against average for Carolina at 2.38.
He has a save percentage of .909%. Andersen (19-8-0) has played the most games in net for the Hurricanes this season. He has a 2.44 GAA and a .903% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Toronto is 18-12-4 away from home this season. Carolina is 24-9-2 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Carolina Hurricanes (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
