The Chicago Blackhawks (+205) play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs (-255) at United Center on Sunday. The total is 6.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Toronto (34-14-8) is playing the second of a back-to-back after earning a 5-1 win over the Canadiens yesterday.
The Maple Leafs committed only one penalty in the game, holding Montreal without a power play goal. Michael Bunting led the Maple Leafs with two goals.
Joseph Woll saved an impressive 29 of 30 shots (.966%) in the win.Chicago (17-32-5) beat the Senators 4-3 (OT) on Friday. Patrick Kane scored twice to lead the Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek surrendered three goals on 31 shots (.903%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Maple Leafs won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-2 victory on February 15, their third straight win against Chicago. William Nylander led Toronto with three points (1G 2A). Sam Lafferty and Philipp Kurashev were on the scoresheet for Chicago. Ilya Samsonov got the win, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931%).
FACING OFF
Toronto is averaging 3.41 goals per game for the season, eighth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blackhawks team that is allowing 3.63 goals a game (27th).
Meanwhile, Chicago has found the net a league-worst 2.43 times a game on average and won’t find goals any easier to come by against the Maple Leafs’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to 2.62 goals per game (4th).
Chicago averages fewer shots/game (26.7) than any other team in the league, while the team’s 9.1% shooting percentage is 29th. With an average of 32.3 attempts, Toronto ranks 14th.
The Maple Leafs’ 25.14% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Blackhawks rank 26th with a conversion rate of 17.20%. In terms of penalty killing, Toronto has the league’s 11th-ranked PK% at 81.29%, while Chicago is 22nd at 76.54%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 65 points apiece this season, Nylander (31G 34A) and Mitchell Marner (19G 46A) are the top skaters for the Maple Leafs. Marner is among the league leaders in assists (6th). In the net, Samsonov (19-6-2) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.31 GAA, fifth-best in the league, and a .918% save percentage. Max Domi and Kane lead the Blackhawks in scoring with 38 and 37 points, respectively. Domi has 14 goals and 24 assists in 54 games, while Kane has 11 goals and 26 assists in 51 games.
Arvid Soderblom (2-10-2) has the best goals against average for Chicago at 3.45. He has a save percentage of .894%. Mrazek (6-15-2) has played the most games in net for the Blackhawks this season. He has a 3.95 GAA and a .885% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Toronto is 12-8-4 on the road this season. Chicago is 10-16-3 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are 5-3 without a day off and 3-2 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Blackhawks are 4-4 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Toronto Maple Leafs -1.5 (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
