Maple Leafs vs Avalanche Betting Preview & Analysis

A glance at the NHL league standings shows the Toronto Maple Leafs trying to keep the Boston Bruins within shouting distance as they trail the B’s by nine points for supremacy in the Atlantic division.

With the halfway point in the NHL season approaching, the Colorado Avalanche are finding this season to be more difficult than last, after battling early season NHL injuries, trailing Dallas Stars by nine points in the Central division.

Here are some trends to help you cash your NHL picks and parlays.

Expect Leafs Back to Basics After Loss to Coyotes

It’s strange to think that the Coyotes may be a more formidable opponent than the Avalanche for the Leafs but after a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, it’s likely we’ll get a better effort after losing for the second time against the ‘Yotes this season.

These are the games you circle at the end of the NHL season if you miss out on the next spot up the playoff ladder by a couple of points.

To be honest, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked like a NHL team that was already thinking about Denver rather than being focused on a team that handed them a loss on home ice early in the season as a -500 favorite.

What we will suggest heading into an NHL matchup with two teams who are clearly crushing over tickets of late, when a team like Toronto losses to an opponent that they should easily handle, teams go back to basics every time.

That means, expect Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, to emphasize defense against the Avalanche’s speed. While most bettors will be on the over because logic will tell the public, that if both Toronto and Colorado Avalanche gave up six to Arizona, and 13 in their last three games overall as is the case with the Leafs, this will be easy pickings.

That kind of thinking will have you ripping up tickets in frustration.

“The public believes that the Leafs are an aggressive, high-flying team, the truth is they are much more defensive-oriented than they have been in the past, allowing just 2.5 goals per game (ranked #2) and 28.6 shots per night (ranked #5).”

Let’s continue our Maple Leafs vs Avalanche betting preview by turning our attention to the Avalanche.

Colorado Keeping Head Above Water

The number of injuries that the Colorado Avalanche has had to overcome this season would make the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings of 21-22 blush. Still out of the line-up are Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Valeri Nichushkin.

That three NHL players who scored over 25 goals were eliminated from the defending champions. Take them off the top six and you’re left with a team ranked 25th in goals scored (2.94).

The more players Jared Bednar has to replace off his top forward list, the more shuffling has to be done below those players, creating unfamiliarity throughout the roster.

Like Toronto, for Colorado to hang onto a playoff spot until the first few weeks of January when both Landeskog and MacKinnon are expected back, they must play well defensively, which they didn’t in losses to Los Angeles and Arizona who also put up a six spot on the Colorado, Tuesday.

As we conclude our Maple Leafs vs Avalanche betting preview, let’s look at some trends followed by our official selection.

Wait on Public to Pound Over

You’ll see it happen when the total is posted. The public will use what they just saw to bet two teams that haven’t looked like a defensive threat in a few games, with the Coyotes being the center of their wager.

What we don’t take into account is that not only do we have professional players on the ice, but we have coaches that are paid very well to devise ways to plug glaring holes.

For both teams, those holes are clearly in their own end and you can wager that Bednar and Keefe both know that positioning and quick transition will give one of these teams a desperately needed win.

The Leafs have been exceptional at turning the switch on against the better teams in the league, cashing 12 unders in their last 16 games against teams over .500.

Colorado has been in under mode for quite some time as they lost most of their bullets from the opening drop of the puck on the season. Bednar’s team continues to crush under with winners in 21 of their last 29 decisions.

Our official selection is to wager under the total to close our Maple Leafs vs Avalanche betting preview. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

For NHL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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