A Saturday night in the NHL features a matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Welcome to NHL predictions here on Last Word on Hockey! Every day, we examine the games going on in the NHL, providing predictions for head-to-head matchups. In today’s prediction article, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins host Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs. Be sure to check out all the predictions here on Last Word on Hockey!
NHL Predictions
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Maple Leafs 1-0 Penguins
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST); 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
TV: Sportsnet+; ESPN+
Approaching the holiday break, both the Penguins and Leafs are looking to rebound from losses last night. The Penguins are 11-13-4, just a few points out of a wildcard position. They’re coming off a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Meanwhile, the Leafs are 16-7-2, sitting atop the Atlantic Division. They’re coming off a loss to the Washington Capitals.
The Penguins’ Story
The Penguins are looking to turn their season around. Following a stint sitting at the bottom of the league, a four-game win streak propelled Pittsburgh back into the playoff race. Sidney Crosby leads the team with 26 points in 28 games. Evgeni Malkin has had a good season with 24 points in 28 games as well. Phillip Tomasino continued his hot streak in New York, and has three goals and four points in his last four games. Defensively, Erik Karlsson has been doing better in his own end. He’s contributing offence on top of this with 16 points as well. Utilizing the defensive depth of the roster will be key against the Leafs.
In net, Alex Nedeljkovic suffered a loss against the Rangers last night. This means Tristan Jarry will get the nod against the Leafs. Jarry has won three straight games, looking to redeem the last couple years’ worth of performances he’s had. Against a star-studded Leafs team, Jarry will be an enormous factor.
The Maple Leafs’ Story
Toronto has enjoyed the best start to the season with this current core group. With a 16-7-2 record, this may be the year they win the Atlantic Division title. Superstar forward Mitch Marner leads the team, scoring 36 points through 26 games. Behind him, William Nylander and John Tavares have 27 and 23 points respectively. Franchise centre Auston Matthews was injured for a few weeks in November and has come back looking healthier than ever. He’s also made a notable impact in the games he has played, with 16 points in 17 games.
Goaltending has been a significant area of strength for Toronto this season. Starter Joseph Woll has put up a winning record of 7-2 with a .922 save percentage since returning from injury. Additionally, backup Anthony Stolarz took his opportunity at the beginning of the season and ran with it. He has an 8-5-2 record with a .924 save percentage this season. As Stolarz played against the Capitals, it is likely Woll gets the start against Pittsburgh.
Prediction
Both Toronto and Pittsburgh are looking for bounce-back games. The Penguins were running on a high during their win streak prior to the Rangers loss. The Leafs, however, have proven their ability to rebound from losses this season. While Pittsburgh will put up a fight at home, this Leafs roster is performing on a different level at the moment.
Prediction: Leafs win 5-3
Prop Bets of the Night
Seeing as both teams played gruelling games last night, expect the play to be sloppy. With the offensive talent on both rosters, FanDuel’s Over-7 at +164 is a good bet in this one.
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Main Photo: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 7 w/ Pittsburgh Penguins vs Toronto Maple Leafs appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.