A couple of the least-penalized teams in the league, the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs meet at Scotiabank Arena for a cross-country matchup. The match gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, October 29, and you’ll be able to witness the game live on Sportsnet.
Calgary Flames vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Calgary (+125) is entering this one as the underdog to Toronto (-145) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
The Maple Leafs are 8-3 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 2.2 units this year. That win percentage, strongest in the league so far in this young season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (49-33). Through 11 regular season matches, seven of its games have gone under the total, while four have gone over and none have pushed. The team is 3-3 SU at home so far this year.
Toronto’s converted on 32.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Toronto has been penalized just 2.9 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the second-lowest figure in the league. After serving an average of 7.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to kill penalties for 6.3 minutes per outing this season.
Boasting a .916 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (6-3) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Maple Leafs this season. If the Leafs choose to give him the night off, however, the team might turn to the undefeated Garret Sparks (2-0 record, .892 save percentage, 3.49 goals against average).
Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner will each lead the way for the Maple Leafs. Matthews (16 points) is up to 10 goals and six assists and has recorded multiple points seven times this year. Marner has four goals and 11 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in seven games.
On the other side of the ice, Calgary is 5-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 11 regular season contests, seven of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under the total and none have pushed. Calgary’s 3-3 SU as an away team this season.
Calgary has converted on just 15.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 71.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Calgary’s players have been penalized only 3.6 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.4, which was the second-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 11.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for just 7.9 minutes per outing this year.
Mike Smith (.869 save percentage and 3.91 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Smith is averaging 23.1 saves per game and has three wins, five losses, and one OT loss to his credit.
Johnny Gaudreau (five goals, nine assists) has been one of the most vital playmakers on offense for the visiting Flames.
Calgary Flames vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in each of Toronto’s last five outings.
Extra-man opportunities may be even more key than usual tonight. The Flames are 1-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 4-4 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Maple Leafs are 3-0 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 7-3 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
After posting a 2-5 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Calgary is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Toronto went 7-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
Calgary has scored 3.3 goals per game this year, but has been averaging 2.0 goals per match up over its three-game losing skid.
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