The Columbus Blue Jackets (15-32-4) will be looking to end their losing streak when they play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs (31-13-8) at Nationwide Arena on Friday. Toronto is coming off a 5-2 loss against the Bruins on February 1.
The Maple Leafs took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring once on two shots while holding Boston without a power play goal. Calle Jarnkrok and Mitchell Marner both scored once for the Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov only had 24 saves on 29 shots against (.827%) in the loss.
Columbus lost for the third straight game, falling 4-3 (OT) to the Capitals on January 31. Johnny Gaudreau, Andrew Peeke, and Eric Robinson each scored once for the Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo saved only 30 of 34 shots against (.882%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Maple Leafs won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 5-4 victory in their final meeting in March. Four players had two points for Toronto.
Gustav Nyquist and Max Domi each had two points (0G 2A) to lead Columbus. Petr Mrazek got the win despite allowing four goals on 35 shots (.885%).
FACING OFF
Toronto is averaging 3.37 goals per game for the season, eighth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 3.86 goals a game (30th). Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 2.55 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and the Maple Leafs are allowing opponents to score 2.69 goals per game (8th).
Columbus averages fewer shots a game (28.8) than most teams in the league, ranking 28th, while the team’s 8.9% shooting percentage is 31st. With an average of 31.9 attempts, Toronto ranks 16th.
The Maple Leafs’ 25.00% power play percentage ranks sixth in the league, while the Blue Jackets are 27th with a conversion rate of 16.67%. When it comes to penalty killing, Toronto has the league’s 15th-ranked PK% at 80.00%, while Columbus is 19th at 76.88%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 60 and 59 points this season, Marner and William Nylander have been the top skaters for the Maple Leafs. Marner is among the league leaders with his 41 assists (6th). In the net, Samsonov (17-6-2) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.42 GAA and a .913% save percentage. Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 49 points. He has 14 goals and 35 assists in 51 games. Korpisalo (8-9-3) has the best goals against average for Columbus at 3.35. He has a save percentage of .906%.
HOME AND AWAY
Toronto is looking to end a three-game losing run away from home this season. Columbus is 11-15-2 at Nationwide Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Over 6.5 (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
