Two Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls will meet for an NHL battle on Saturday night in Pittsburgh. The Penguins will host the Toronto Maple Leafs in what should be a high-scoring affair between two explosive offenses. Pittsburgh features a veteran roster with plenty of playoff experience, while the Maple Leafs are one of the up and coming teams in the NHL. The Penguins come into this game with 15 points and are in first place in the Metropolitan Division. Toronto has accumulated 16 points already this season but trail the Tampa Bay Lightning in the very tough Atlantic Division.
Penguins vs. Maple Leafs Odds
The moneyline for this game is Pittsburgh Penguins -150. The Toronto Maple Leafs check in at +130. The over/under for total goals scored is set at 6.0.
Spread: Penguins -150
Total: 6.0
Penguins vs. Maple Leafs Head to Head
This is the second of three meetings between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs this season. The Maple Leafs dropped a home game to the Penguins earlier this season, getting shut out in a 3-0 loss. Penguins goaltender Matt Murray stopped all 38 shots that he faced in the win over Toronto in that game.
Penguins vs. Maple Leafs Stats
The Pittsburgh Penguins are the highest scoring team in the NHL so far this season, averaging 4.1 goals per game. Evgeni Malkin leads the team with seven goals and twenty points so far this season. Phil Kessel has chipped in with nine assists and 16 points for the Penguins. Matt Murray has posted a 3.45 goals against average so far this season but has struggled of late.
Toronto has scored on over 30 percent of their power play opportunities this season which is the third-best percentage in the NHL. Young Auston Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with ten goals scored this season while Morgan Rielly leads the team with 16 points. Frederik Anderson has been solid in net for Toronto, posting a 2.49 goals against average.
Penguins vs. Maple Leafs News
Evgeni Malkin was recently named the NHL’s second star for October after tallying 19 points during the first month of the season. Captain Sidney Crosby was named NHL First Star of the Week last week after scoring five goals and registering seven points to lead the Penguins offense.
The Maple Leafs come into this game having lost two straight contests. Toronto has managed to score just one goal in each of those losses and will need to find offense in this game.
Penguins vs. Maple Leafs Predictions
The offense of the Pittsburgh Penguins is clicking on all cylinders right now, while the Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling to score. The Penguins have a much better roster than the Maple Leafs, and they also have the edge of playing at home. Pittsburgh should win their second straight game over Toronto to increase their lead in the Metropolitan Division. Bet the Pittsburgh Penguins -150 over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
