NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets Predictions, Odds for Dec. 14
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Predictions & Odds for Dec. 14
The Leafs, coming off a big 7-3 win Tuesday night in New York against the first-place Rangers, host the Blue Jackets, owners of one of the worst records in the NHL Eastern Conference (9-16-5, for 23 points, second last).
How to watch the Blue Jackets vs Leafs
Date: Dec. 14, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Scotiabank Arena
How to watch: TV: Sportsnet Ontario; Radio: TSN 1050
Toronto Maple Leafs Insights
Online sportsbooks have been all over the Leafs this season, who possess a 15-6-5 record, for a solid fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. Auston Matthews is heating back up, with two goals against the Rangers, getting him to 21 on the season (five goals in his past three games). He’s on pace for north of 60 goals again.
The Leafs have posted an 8-4-1 record on home ice this season and have earned a point in 11 of their last 13 meetings against the Blue Jackets (8-2-3). D Mark Giordano remains week-to-week with a broken finger, and D Timothy Liljegren, while back skating, is still out with that high ankle sprain. No word yet if F Matthew Knies will be back after sitting out the Rangers game with an illness. Ilya Samsonov (5-3-2, 3.29 GAA, .884 SV%) starts in goal for the Leafs.
Columbus Blue Jackets Insights
It’s been a rough season in Columbus, which started with the hiring-firing of coach Mike Babcock. That whole situation set them off on the wrong path. D Erik Gudbranson was suspended one game by the NHL for instigating a fight with Nick Cousins during Sunday’s game against the Florida Panthers, so he won’t play tonight.
C Boone Jenner, G Elvis Merzlikins, and D Adam Boqvist are all out with injuries. Pascal Vincent is one of the NHL’s current coaches on the hot seat, according to an ESPN opinion piece this morning. Columbus has the eighth-worst power play percentage in the NHL, at 14.1%.
Player Props
On the BetMGM sports betting front this morning, most bet player props for tonight’s game are led by Matthews Over 1.5 points (2.20), Matthews Over 4.5 Shots (1.83), and John Tavares Over 3.5 Shots (1.91).
Leafs vs Blue Jackets Betting Odds: Our Picks & Predictions
- ⭐ Moneyline 3.00 (Columbus), 1.40 Leafs
- ⭐ Spread +1.5 1.91 (Columbus), -1.5 1.95 Leafs
- ⭐ Over/Under +7
Take the Over +7, with Matthews heating up, and Mitch Marner anchoring that second line with Tavares. Marner also had two goals Tuesday night against the Rangers. The Blue Jackets have the fourth-worst GAA in the NHL, at 3.50. The Leafs are seventh in the NHL in goals for per game – 3.46 – and are tied for sixth in power play percentage (25.0).
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