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Weekly NHL Betting action sees the Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the Ottawa Senators on October 22 at Canadian Tire Centre. Cappers Picks provides free NHL handicapping tips all season long.

The streaking Ottawa Senators will welcome their biggest rival to town Wednesday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs, off an impressive 5-2 win at the New York Islanders pay visit. It will be the 100th meeting between the two sides. Toronto won three of the four meetings last season and will be looking take a bite out of their Provincial foe again.

NHL Hockey Odds

Toronto (3-3-1-0) at Ottawa (4-1-0-0)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Broadcast: TVA Sports, SN1
Toronto Maple Leafs +1½ -225 +138 Ov 5½ -124
Ottawa Senators         -1½ +195 -152 Un 5½ +113
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The Toronto Maple Leafs will have no time to relish their best effort of the season – that 5-2 win over the Isles – a third straight road game pits them against the best team in the East right on Wednesday night.

The Leafs played well last night – nine different players recorded points – a good sign for this team going forward.

Philip Kessel continues to look like one of the most dangerous players in the game right now – he registered a point last night and now sits eighth in the NHL with eight points (four goals and four assists). Line mate Tyler Bozak has been strong as well along with James van Riemsdyck. Heck even David Clarkson has two goals and an assist so far this young season. All together the Leafs are averaging 2.86 goals per game – decent but off last year’s pace.

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The issue with the offense is the fact that if the top line is shut down, the Leafs don’t win – period! Toronto isn’t quite a one-line team but they are getting closer and closer to that distinction as we head deeper into the season.

The much maligned Leafs defense has been OK – the team is allowing 3.00 goals per game and both goaltenders currently have save percentages north of .900. Jonathan Bernier got his first win of the season last night so it is reasonable to expect James Reimer to be between the pipes tonight. Reimer is 2-1-0 with a 2.98 GAA and .906 so far this year.

The Ottawa Senators are in the midst of a four game win streak and they can thank their defense and goaltending for the quick start. The Sens are consistently being outshot – they have surrendered 35.6 shots per game but have allowed 10 combined goals in their five outings.

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Robin Lehner is 2-0-0 with a terrific 1.92 GAA and stellar .950 save percentage while Craig Anderson is 2-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .939 save percentage so far. Both keepers make up one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL so far this young season.

Offensively the Sens have been a third period team – they have outscored their opponents 6-1 in the third period during their four game win streak – better starts are critical going forward. The team is averaging 2.60 goals per game – not great but good enough considering the defensive play of the club.

There are no Sens that are averaging a point per game so far – Clark MacArthur and Erik Karlsson lead the team with two goals and two assists in five games. The line of Bobby Ryan, Mika Zibanejad and Alex Chiasson have disappointed so far – a combined two goals and two assists in five games so far.

The Ottawa power play has also struggled – 3-for-22 so far.

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NHL Gambling Trends

• TOR are 1-11 in their last 12 vs. Atlantic.
• TOR are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.
• TOR are 5-16 in their last 21 overall.
• OTT are 8-0 in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Under is 9-1 in OTT last 10 overall.
• Under is 9-1 in OTT last 10 games following a win.
• Under is 16-5-2 in the last 23 meetings in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Senators are perhaps lucky to have four wins on the season so far. Wednesday night promises to be a stiff test. Expect offense to prevail over defense in this one as the Leafs ride the wave of confidence to a second straight win. Take the Leafs to win their fourth game in the last five meetings between the teams.

NHL Betting 4* Free Play

Toronto Maple Leafs +138

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