New Jersey Devils vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, Betting Odds, and the Best Bet of the Night

The New Jersey Devils head to Toronto tonight to take on the Maple Leafs in an Eastern Conference showdown and the Devils are looking for some retribution. With New Jersey slightly favored at -130 on the moneyline, we’re thinking this matchup will be tight and loaded with action at Scotiabank Arena.

Before you place your bets on this game, we’ve got the odds, analysis, and prediction for how this game will turn out.

Devils vs. Maple Leafs Odds and Insights

The Devils come into this game with a solid 26-15-5 record which puts them 2nd in the Metropolitan Division just behind the surging Capitals.

Toronto, on the other hand, is pretty solid with their 27-16-2 record and leads the Atlantic Division by just a point.

Both teams are looking to bounce back from recent losses, with the Devils losing 2-1 in a shootout to Florida and the Maple Leafs falling 4-1 to Dallas. The Leafs are on a 3 game skid, so they’re really trying to find their rhythm.

The total points line is set at 5.5 which tells us that the bookmakers think the blue line and the netminders will rule this game. The Devils have hit the over only twice in their last 10 games as they struggle to put up tons of goals, while Toronto has blown through it in 4 of their last 10.

Toronto has won both of their previous games against the Devils this season, including a 2-1 OT victory in December. While this might lead you to believe Toronto has the advantage, both teams are coming into tonight looking a little different than last time.

New Jersey Devils Analysis

The Devils enter as slight road favorites. This is largely due to their strong defensive performance this season and not necessarily their ability to find the back of the net.

They’ve allowed just 115 goals which is good for 5th in the NHL and have an impressive 82.7% PK rate. Goalie Jacob Markstrom has been absolutely stellar as he’s boasting a 2.15 GAA and a .913 save percentage placing him among the best netminders in the league.

Offensively, the Devils are led by Nico Hischier, who scored 20 goals, and Jesper Bratt, who scored 36 assists. However, New Jersey has struggled with consistency in the offensive zone recently, going 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. They’re keeping the goals at a minimum, but they need to crank up their shooting percentage. On top of that, big injuries to Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen could limit their scoring depth even more in this matchup.

Their power play remains one of their best weapons. They’re 3rd in the NHL as they’re converting at 27.9%, but they’ll also need to find ways to create chances against a solid Maple Leafs penalty kill.

Toronto Maple Leafs Analysis

Toronto’s season has been defined by offensive firepower. With stars like Mitch Marner at 46 assists and William Nylander at 24 goals leading the way, they’re able to consistently find the back of the net. Despite their scoring dominance this season, the Leafs have hit a rough patch lately, losing 3 of their last 4 games. However, these losses were against some solid teams.

Defensively, Toronto has struggled at times, but they’re not awful. They’ve allowed 128 goals which is good for 13th in the NHL, which can be attributed to both some slow defense and sloppy goaltending at times. Goalie Joseph Woll has been decent but not necessarily spectacular, with his 2.65 GAA and .908 save percentage.

Toronto’s power play ranks just 18th at 20.3%, but their PK efficiency is almost identical to the Devils’. The Leafs will need their stars to produce early and often, especially with John Tavares out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury.

Prediction and Best Bet

So, who’s going to walk away with 2 points tonight? It’s going to be a close one, but we think the Devils have the edge on this one.

This matchup is a contrast between New Jersey’s dominant defense and Toronto’s high-octane offensive talent. While the Devils have been solid on the road, Toronto’s recent success in this series and their home-ice advantage can’t be overlooked.

That said, Jacob Markstrom and the Devils’ PK are the X-factors here. The Leafs have been inconsistent offensively over their past few games and New Jersey’s ability to shut down top teams gives them the edge.

• Best Pick: New Jersey Devils moneyline (-130)
• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Devils 3, Maple Leafs 2

The Devils’ defense and goaltending should be enough to hold firm against Toronto’s top-heavy offense. We’re expecting a low-scoring battle, with New Jersey doing just enough to secure the win. If they win by 1.5+, it’ll be due to an open net in the final minutes of the game.

If you want to place a bet on the total score, the under 5.5 at -105 is also worth a look given both teams’ recent trends.