Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs Prediction, 4/4/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Location: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON

TV: Sportsnet

Scotiabank Arena is where the Toronto Maple Leafs (45-21-10) will compete against the Columbus Blue Jackets (24-44-8) on Tuesday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the winning side of the scoreboard with a 4-3 victory over the Senators in their previous game. Columbus accrued 4 mins in the box in this outing. Additionally, they had 2 power play tries and were able to net 1 goal. The Blue Jackets had a good offensive outing in this win. For the game, they converted 4 of the 22 shots they attempted.

Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have tallied 223 power play tries (21st in the league) and have scored 54 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets so far have had 2,680 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .887. Columbus has taken 2,240 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.0%. While playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 248 goals while notching 163 on the offensive side of the ice. Columbus has compiled 207 power play opportunities and they have notched 39 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 18.84%. For the current campaign, they have racked up 56 points and their points percentage comes in at .368. In relation to their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 202 goals (30th in hockey) on the year and have surrendered 302.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has taken the ice for 150 contests over the course of his hockey career. He has an overall record of 55-62-22 and he started in 137 games. Opponents have been able to score 428 goals against Merzlikins in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 3.13. Merzlikins has had 4,553 shots against him and he has 4,125 total saves. He has a save percentage of .906 in his 8,192 mins between the pipes. For his professional hockey career, Merzlikins has earned 67 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .489.

In their last game, Toronto faced the Red Wings in a matchup where the Maple Leafs ended up losing by a final of 5-2. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this one and scored 1 out of those attempts. The Maple Leafs scored 2 goals out of the 45 shots on goal they were seeking.

The Maple Leafs have accumulated 200 goals at even strength and 57 goals (10th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. Toronto has taken 2,430 shots (14th in hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 10.58%, while allowing their opponents 2,222 shots. For the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have earned a total of 257 goals, 100 points, as well as a points percentage of .658. They have granted a total of 209 goals to be scored by of a combination of 165 goals at even strength and 44 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 226 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 25.22%. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 80.53% on their oppositions 226 tries on the power play, and their save percentage currently comes in at 90.6%.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Ilya Samsonov patrolling the crease. Teams are averaging 2.68 goals per contest and he has yielded 320 goals altogether. Samsonov's rate of quality starts is 50.0% and he has made 58 quality starts in his NHL career. He has made the start in 116 contests and has played 7,155 mins. Samsonov has accumulated a lifetime mark of 77-32-12 and has been in net for 128 contests. He has accrued 3,097 saves out of the 3,417 shots taken against him, which gives him a save percentage of .906.

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

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Toronto

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