Free NHL Picks Today: Detroit Red Wings vs Toronto Maple Leafs 1/12/23

The Toronto Maple Leafs (-145) will be looking to extend their winning run when they travel to take on the Detroit Red Wings (+125) at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday. The total is 6.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Toronto (26-9-7) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a 2-1 win over the Predators yesterday, their third win in a row.

The Maple Leafs committed only two penalties in the game, holding Nashville without a power play goal. John Tavares and Mitchell Marner each scored once for the Maple Leafs. Tavares added an assist to share the scoring lead with William Nylander, who had two assists.

Matt Murray saved an impressive 32 of 33 shots (.969%) in the win. Detroit (17-15-7) beat the Jets 7-5 on Tuesday. Seven players found the net for the Red Wings. Moritz Seider had four assists to lead the team in scoring. Ville Husso only stopped 32 of 37 shots (.864%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Maple Leafs have won both games between the teams this season, including a 4-1 victory in their most recent meeting on January 7, their ninth straight win against Detroit. Tavares (2G 0A), Marner (1G 1A), and Morgan Rielly (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Toronto. Jake Walman scored Detroit’s only goal.

FACING OFF

Toronto is averaging 3.40 goals per game for the season, eighth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Red Wings team that is allowing 3.38 goals a game (22nd). Meanwhile, Detroit has found the net 3.08 times a game on average, 21st in the league, and the Maple Leafs are holding opponents to 2.57 goals per game (2nd).

The Maple Leafs’ 24.82% power play percentage ranks seventh in the league, while the Red Wings are 21st with a conversion rate of 19.86%. In terms of defending power plays, Toronto has the league’s 15th-ranked PK% at 79.69%, while Detroit is 20th at 75.00%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 50 and 47 points this season, Marner and Nylander have been the top skaters for the Maple Leafs. Marner is among the league leaders with his 34 assists (6th). In the net, Ilya Samsonov (12-3-1) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 2.29 GAA, third-best in the league, and a .916% save percentage. Murray (10-4-2) leads the Maple Leafs in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.57 and a save percentage of .916%.Dylan Larkin leads the Red Wings in scoring with 35 points.

He has 14 goals and 21 assists in 38 games. Husso (13-8-5) has the best goals against average for Detroit at 3.03. He has a save percentage of .901%.

HOME AND AWAY

Toronto is 11-6-3 away from Scotiabank Arena this season. Detroit is 10-8-3 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are 5-1 without a day off and 3-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Red Wings are 2-1 with a rest advantage.