Free NHL Picks Today: St. Louis Blues vs Toronto Maple Leafs 12/27/22

The Toronto Maple Leafs (-150) are on the road to take on the St. Louis Blues (+130) at Enterprise Center on Tuesday. The total is 6.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Toronto (21-7-6) is coming off a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday. The Maple Leafs committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Four players found the net for the Maple Leafs.

William Nylander scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Ilya Samsonov only saved 16 of 19 shots (.842%) in the win. St. Louis (16-16-2) fell 5-4 (SO) to the Golden Knights on Friday.

Four players found the net for the Blues. Vladimir Tarasenko scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Jordan Binnington saved only 28 of 32 shots against (.875%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 6-3 victory for the Blues in February. Pavel Buchnevich (2G 0A), Robert Thomas (0G 2A), and David Perron (0G 2A) each had two points to lead St. Louis.

Nylander (2G 0A) and Alexander Kerfoot (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Toronto. Ville Husso got the win, saving 34 of 37 shots (.918%).

FACING OFF

Toronto is averaging 3.26 goals per game for the season, 12th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blues team that is allowing 3.62 goals a game (28th). Meanwhile, St. Louis has found the net 3.03 times a game on average, 24th in the league, and the Maple Leafs are holding opponents to 2.41 goals per game (2nd).

The Maple Leafs’ 23.85% power play percentage ranks 10th in the league, while the Blues are 12th with a conversion rate of 23.40%. St. Louis has been less impressive at penalty killing, as the home team possesses the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 70.73%. Toronto’s 80.77% ranks ninth in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 40 and 39 points this season, Mitchell Marner and Nylander have been the top skaters for the Maple Leafs. Nylander is among the league leaders with his 20 goals (9th), while Marner is among the league leaders with his 27 assists (10th).

In the net, Samsonov (10-3-0) is Toronto’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.07 GAA, third-best in the league, and a .924% save percentage.Jordan Kyrou and Thomas lead the Blues in scoring with 32 and 31 points, respectively.

Kyrou has 16 goals and 16 assists in 31 games, while Thomas has eight goals and 23 assists. Binnington (12-11-2) has the best goals against average for St. Louis at 3.14. He has a save percentage of .896%.