Why the Maple Leafs Tough is Concerning Long Term

Toronto As The Pressure Of A Favourite

When the Maple Leafs were listed among the top-three teams in Stanley Cup futures, fans, pundits, and bettors immediately scoffed. This team has not advanced past the opening round since 2004. 

Toronto has been favoured in nine out of 10 contests so far. They were not against the Vegas Golden Knights. Even then, Toronto lost six games in this scenario. 

If one bet with Toronto in every game this season, that bettor would have lost a good deal of money. The Maple Leafs are now 1-9 against the spread. Their 4-1 road win against Winnipeg is the only time Toronto covered the Puckline. 

On Sunday, the Ducks were 2.51 underdogs, which means a $100 bet would have a profit of $151. Conversely, at 1.55, Toronto would have made wagerers a mere $54.95. There was that Arizona loss that immediately came to mind. Toronto was a 1.20 favourite in that contest. The Maple Leafs dropped that game outright. A $100 bet at 5.00 odds made a substantial profit of $400.

Toronto, on this road trip, went 0-2-2 overall. There were costly turnovers, bad goals, and worse, a lack of consistent offense. The Maple Leafs are shooting at a rate of 8.6% NHL League Average stands at 10.0%. Are they squeezing their sticks too tight? It is cliche but also a valid question. Is the pressure getting to them?

Offence Not Bailing Out Maple Leafs For Mistakes

The Maple Leafs and their margin of error magnify their problems, unlike last October. Toronto is 1-3-2 overall but 3-1 at home. One would think a team would play a little more disciplined away from home. However, the Maple Leafs, their top players, seem to magnify their mistakes. 

Game 10 saw Mitch Marner make two mistakes, leading to two goals and a “benching.” It does feel like it is always something with the Maple Leafs. When the Puckline is almost an inevitable loss, and the moneyline starts to drop off, that is quite a problem. At 3-3, Toronto had several more chances to win too. Yet, delivery of that fourth goal proved to be too elusive. 

Furthermore, there was that “goalie interference” call on Anaheim. The Ducks would have won in regulation depriving Toronto of one point. Even Auston Matthews scored on Sunday and has just three goals on 48 shots (6.67%). His career shooting percentage is 16%. 

Oddly, different players are struggling in different ways. Mitch Marner is passing more than shooting, as he is down more than 1.1 shots per game compared to last season. Marner has just two goals on the season. After 35 last season, he is on pace for just 16. That is extreme, but these are just a few players impacting props and bets for Canadian sports bettors. 

What Can Be Done?

That is the biggest question. It is challenging to trust Toronto from a betting standpoint. Will there be a coaching change, player changes, or a combination? 

Sometimes it is beneficial to refrain from wagering with a particular team. It is tough to bet the Under here because Toronto has now connected on the Over in two of its past three games. It is OK to pivot, as there are 31 other teams. 

With rumors circulating about potential coach and even general manager replacements, being a player or coach in Toronto cannot be an easy feeling currently. Betting anything on the Maple Leafs has to feel like an adventure. Now, we wait.