Maple Leafs vs Sharks NHL Line & Handicapping
Hot Teams Collide – Leafs Attempt to Take Bite out of Sharks
Two of hotter teams in the NHL meet on Tuesday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs who are 14-3-3 in their last 20 games overall take on the San Jose Sharks who are 8-1-1 in their last 10.
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Toronto is coming off an impressive 3-1 win in Anaheim last night while the Sharks have win two straight – the last being a 4-0 win over Montreal on home ice Saturday. The Sharks won the only other meeting between the teams this season and are a terrific 24-4-4 on at home this season.
Toronto (35-23-4-4) at San Jose (41-17-2-5)
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
Broadcast: SNET-O, CSN-CA
Leafs vs. Sharks Betting Lines from betonline.com
Toronto Maple Leafs +1½ -155 +195 Ov 5½ -109
San Jose Sharks -1½ +135 -215 Un 5½ -101
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The Toronto maple Leafs are on some kind of role. Last night they beat the Ducks in Anaheim – no easy task for any team. Tuesday night the Leafs are tasked with pulling a difficult California double.
Toronto’s offense has been good all season long averaging 2.83 goals per game. Phil Kessel has led the way with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his past eight games – 35 points in his last 21 games! Tyler Bozak has three goals and two assists in his past three while a host of Leafs has two points in their last two games including Dion Phaneuf, Joffrey Lupul and Troy Bodie. The Leafs scored three last night with Phil Kessel being in on all.
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Jonathan Bernier has been terrific for the Leafs – 43 saves against the Ducks makes him 12-2-2 with a 2.62 goals-against average in his last 16 starts. However Bernier went 1-2-0 with a 3.57 GAA in four games against San Jose while with Los Angeles.
The San Jose Sharks can creep to within two points of Anaheim with a win Tuesday night atop the tough Pacific Division. They are 2-0-1 during their current four game home stand and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games overall. Typically the Sharks offense has been good and is coming off a four goal effort Saturday night against Montreal.
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As a team the Sharks average 2.92 goals per game. Patrick Marleau has seven points in his last six games, Raffi Torres has caught fire and has five points in five game and Brent Burns has snapped an ugly slump and has three points in his last three games. Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels each have three points in their last two games. Some help from Martin Havlat and Dan Boyle would be nice – Havlat has one point in five games and Boyle is pointless in four.
The Sharks can also thank Antti Niemi for their recent ascent up the standings. He had been disappointing before the Olympic break but is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .939 save percentage in his last two starts. Backup Alex Stalock is 6-2-1 in his last 10 appearances with a 1.70 GAA and .934 save percentage. Niemi, third in the NHL with 31 wins, has stopped 57 of 60 shots in posting back-to-back victories over the Leafs.
Dave’s FREE NHL Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• TOR are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. Western Conference.
• TOR are 14-6 in their last 20 overall.
• Over is 17-8-2 in TOR last 27 overall.
• Under is 10-2-1 in SJ last 13 home games.
• SJ are 40-11 in their last 51 home games.
• SJ are 6-2 in their last 8 overall.
The San Jose Sharks have won six of the last seven meetings between the two clubs and won the only meeting of the season. Add in the facts that the Sharks have lost only four times in regulation on home ice and that Toronto played a tough game in Anaheim last night and this looks very much like a San Jose win. I like San Jose to post victory in a close game tonight. Unfortunately, I don’t love the price on the moneyline!
Pick: Small play on the San Jose Sharks -1½ +135
