Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 12/23/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Saturday, December 23, 2023

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Maple Leafs (-195) Blue Jackets (+155)

The Toronto Maple Leafs (16-8-6) are headed to Nationwide Arena on Saturday where they will try to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets (11-17-6). The moneyline on this game has Toronto at -195 while Columbus is priced at +155. The over/under comes in at 7.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to get a win in their next outing after their 9-3 defeat to the Sabres in the last game they played. Toronto had 10 penalty minutes in this game. The Maple Leafs had a middle of the road offensive performance in the defeat. They also had 4 opportunities with more players on the ice and scored 1 goal. For the outing, they scored on 3 out of the 27 shots they put on net.

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Toronto Maple Leafs opponents have tallied 92 power play opportunities (30th in hockey) and have a total of 20 goals in those chances. The Maple Leafs have seen 979 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .895. Toronto has attempted 980 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.9%. While playing at even strength, the Maple Leafs have given up 83 goals while getting 84 on offense. Toronto has compiled 89 power play chances and they have notched 23 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 25.84%. For the current season, they have 38 points and their points percentage comes in at .633. With respect to their scoring, the Toronto Maple Leafs have earned 107 goals (7th in the National Hockey League) on the year and have conceded 103.

The man protecting the net in this game is Ilya Samsonov. Opponents have been able to score 370 goals against Samsonov in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 2.75. Samsonov has been involved in 145 games over the course of his professional hockey career. He has a save percentage of .904 for his 8,070 mins on the ice. He has earned a record of 84-34-18 and was named the starter in 133 games. Over the course of his time in hockey, Samsonov has earned 65 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .489. Samsonov has had 3,873 shots taken against him and has garnered 3,503 total saves.

Their last time out, Columbus faced off against the Capitals in a matchup where the Blue Jackets took a loss by a mark of 3-2. The Blue Jackets recorded 2 goals of the 36 shots on goal they attempted. They had 1 chance on the power play in this matchup but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal.

Columbus has taken 1,015 shots (12th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 10.54%, while allowing the opposition 1,166 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 82.11% on the other teams 95 tries on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.5%. They have earned 94 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 15.96%. The Blue Jackets have earned 92 goals at even strength and 15 goals (25th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 123 goals to be scored by way of 106 goals at even strength and 17 goals while they were shorthanded. On the campaign, the Columbus Blue Jackets have a total of 107 goals, 28 points, in addition to a points percentage of .412.

Across the ice you will find Elvis Merzlikins defending the goal. Opponents are averaging 3.14 goals/game and he has allowed 491 goals altogether. Merzlikins' rate of quality starts sits at 48.7% and he has accumulated 77 quality starts in his hockey career. He has been a starter 158 games and his ice time sits at 9,386 minutes. Merzlikins has compiled a lifetime record of 62-70-27 and has participated in 171 contests. He has racked up 4,751 stops out of 5,242 shots tried, which gives him a save % of .906.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Toronto (-195)

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