NHL Pick: Nashville Predators at Toronto Maple Leafs

Overview

The Nashville Predators head up north to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto where they take on the Maple Leafs. These two teams haven’t played each other much just 14 times in the last 15 years. The Predators have won 8 of those 14 meetings overall but they have also won just 2 of the last 5 meetings in Toronto.

Head to Head Trends

Predators are 8-6 in the last 14 meetings.
Predators are 2-3 in their last 5 meetings in Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs (-105)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 6th in the Atlantic Division 9 points back of the 1st place Montreal Canadians. The Leafs didn’t have the best start to the season with just 2 wins through their  first 6 games but they did pick it up a bit winning 6 of 8 games before losing their last 2 in a row. In their last game the Leafs got their asses handed to them by the worst team in the league the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres won 6-2 for just their 4th win of the season and also just the 4th time they managed to score more then 2 goals in a game. The Leafs have a pretty good offense averaging 3.1 goals per game and they also have a solid defense allowing 2.8 goals per game but I’m not sure how long that will last.

Toronto Maple leafs Trends

Maple Leafs are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Central.
Maple Leafs are 4-10 in their last 14 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.

Nashville Predators (-105)

The Nashville Predators are 2nd in the Central Division 1 point back of the 1st place St Louis Blues. The Predators have been playing great so far this season with 11 wins through their first 17 games in large part due to having one of the best defenses in the league allowing just 2.1 goals per game. The Predators don’t have the best offense in the world averaging 2.5 goals per game but if they could ever get their power play going they’d be one of the best teams in the league.

Nashville Predators Trends

Predators are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Conclusion

I’m going with the Nashville Predators over the Maple Leafs in this one. This has been a good start for the Leafs but with 9 wins and 9 looses they’re just a .500 team and I don’t see them getting any better then that while the Predators I think might be good enough to battle for 1st in the tough Central division.

Free Pick: Nashville Predators -105