The Toronto Maple Leafs (22-8-6) are on the road to take on the Colorado Avalanche (19-12-3) at Ball Arena on Saturday. Toronto is coming off a high-scoring 6-3 loss against the Coyotes on Thursday, ending a run of three consecutive wins.
The Maple Leafs committed five penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals. Pontus Holmberg, Calle Jarnkrok, and Alexander Kerfoot scored one apiece for the Maple Leafs. Conor Timmins had two assists to lead the team in scoring.
Matt Murray only had 17 saves on 21 shots against (.809%) in the loss. Colorado fell 5-4 (SO) to the Kings on Thursday. Four players found the net for the Avalanche. Cale Makar scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Alexandar Georgiev saved only 23 of 27 shots against (.851%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 5-4 (OT) victory for the Avalanche in January. Mikko Rantanen led Colorado with four points (0G 4A). Kerfoot led Toronto with three points (1G 2A). Pavel Francouz got the win, saving 18 of 19 shots (.947%).
FACING OFF
Toronto is averaging 3.31 goals per game for the season, 11th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.74 goals a game (9th). Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 2.94 times a game on average, 25th in the league, and the Maple Leafs are holding opponents to 2.56 goals per game (2nd).
The Avalanche’s 26.96% power play percentage ranks sixth in the league, while the Maple Leafs are ninth with a conversion rate of 24.78%. In terms of defending power plays, Toronto has the league’s 14th-ranked PK% at 79.28%, while Colorado is 21st at 75.00%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Mitchell Marner and William Nylander have been the top skaters for the Maple Leafs this season with 41 and 40 points. Nylander is among the league leaders with his 21 goals (8th), while Marner is among the league leaders with his 28 assists (7th).
In the net, Ilya Samsonov (11-3-0) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.20 GAA, third-best in the league, and a .920% save percentage.
Rantanen leads the Avalanche in scoring with 45 points (9th in the league). He has 24 goals (4th in the league) and 21 assists. Georgiev (15-7-2) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.48. He has a save percentage of .921%.
HOME AND AWAY
Toronto is 9-6-3 away from Scotiabank Arena this season. Colorado is 9-5-3 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Toronto Maple Leafs (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
