Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, 2/11/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Date: Saturday, February 11, 2023

Location: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON

TV: Sportsnet

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+235) Maple Leafs (-295)

Scotiabank Arena is where the Toronto Maple Leafs (31-13-8) will compete against the Columbus Blue Jackets (15-32-4) on Saturday. The moneyline on this matchup has Columbus at +235 and Toronto is at -295. The total is set at 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will look to clean up some issues after taking a 4-3 loss against the Capitals their last time on the ice. The Blue Jackets had an average offensive output in the loss. For the game, they scored on 3 of the 34 shots they tried. They also had 1 power play attempt but weren't able to score. Columbus accounted for 8 minutes in the box for this game.

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In terms of their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have notched 130 goals (30th in pro hockey) so far this year and have surrendered 197. For the current season, they have racked up 34 points and their points percentage comes in at .333. Columbus skates onto the rink with 134 power play opportunities and they have scored 22 goals during those advantages, garnering them a percentage of 16.42%. While at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 160 goals while scoring 108 of their own. Columbus has tried 1,470 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 8.8%. The Blue Jackets have seen 1,787 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .890. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have totaled 160 power play tries (18th in the league) and have scored 37 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Opponents have been able to score 400 goals against Merzlikins in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 3.10. Merzlikins has taken the ice for 141 matchups over the course of his NHL career. He has a save percentage of .907 for his 7,746 minutes in the crease. He has earned a record of 53-58-20 and he was named the starter in 128 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Merzlikins has recorded 61 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .477. Merzlikins has seen 4,294 shots against him and has accrued 3,894 total saves.

In their last game, Toronto went up against the Bruins in an outing where the Maple Leafs took the defeat by a score of 5-2. They had 2 chances on the power play in this outing and earned 1 out of those tries. The Maple Leafs had 2 goals out of the 35 shots on goal they attempted.

On the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have notched a total of 175 goals, 70 points, in addition to a points percentage of .673. They have permitted 140 goals to be scored by way of 107 goals at even strength and 33 goals while they were shorthanded. The Maple Leafs have earned 134 goals at even strength and 41 goals (8th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have a total of 164 chances on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 25.00%. Toronto has put up 1,658 shots (14th in pro hockey) and has a shot percentage of 10.55%, while allowing the other team 1,495 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 79.38% on their oppositions 160 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.6%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Ilya Samsonov protecting the goal. He has a tally of 2,728 saves out of 3,015 shots attempted, which gives him a rate of .905. Samsonov has a lifetime mark of 69-28-10 and has played in 114 contests. He has been a starter 103 games and has played for a total of 6,329 mins. Samsonov's quality start percentage comes out to 46.6% and he has accumulated 48 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. His opponents are averaging 2.72 goals per game and he has surrendered 287 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+235)

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