Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Maple Leafs vs Avalanche NHL Odds
Looking for Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Colorado Avalanche free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Maple Leafs taking on the Avalanche on Thursday December 22nd at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions.
(12-12-7) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Colorado Avalanche (11-19-1)
Date: Thursday, December 22nd
Time: 9:00PM EST
Venue: Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Toronto -118
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Toronto -1.5
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
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The Atlantic Division Maple Leafs head to Denver to take on the Central Division Avalanche. The last time these two teams met, in Toronto, the Avalanche left with a win after a 3-1 effort.
With both teams desperate for some wins in December, this will be a much needed game for either team to take.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Perhaps the most intriguing team in the NHL, the Maple Leafs are looking like they’re maybe a year away from being a good team. With a nucleus of young, great talent, the Leafs have the potential to be a fantastic team in the near future.
However, right now, Toronto is struggling to stay relevant.
At 2-3-3 in December, Toronto’s defense has been poor all year and teams have started to figure out the Leafs’ high-tempo, speedy offense.
After having four games in November where they scored six goals, the Leafs haven’t scored more than four in a game in December, and that only happened once.
Rookie Auston Matthews has been solid all year. He has 15 goals and nine assists on the year, including three and one in his last five games.
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The Leafs will have a good shot at winning in Colorado, considering how poor the Avalanche are on both sides of the ice.
However, the offense will have to get going and someone besides Matthews is going to have to score.
Colorado Avalanche
With four straight losses, Colorado will look to bounce back against a struggling Maple Leafs side.
The Avalanche’s last win was a 3-1 win in regulation against the Leafs so the team will look to have a repeat performance.
Very little has gone right for this team on offense or defense this year.
The Avalanche are dead last in goals this season with 65. That says a lot about how the team’s season is going right there.
Giving up 99 goals this year hasn’t helped the team’s cause. A minus-34 goal differential doesn’t bode well for the last place team in the Central Division.
The Avalanche really don’t have any weapons or star power.
The top scorer on the team, center Matt Duchene, has 12 goals and 10 assists on the year. He has two goals and three assists in his last five games.
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Colorado will have to limit the pace of Toronto and keep the Leafs’ forecheck at bay.
To beat Toronto, the Avalanche will have to play hard and fast on defense and find a way to score with what few weapons the team has.
NHL Betting Trends:
- The UNDER is 5-0 in Toronto’s last five games
- Colorado has lost seven straight games at home
Free Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Colorado Avalanche NHL Hockey Prediction:
Toronto may have lost the last matchup against Colorado, but the Leafs have better weapons and are a faster team than the Avalanche. Colorado simply can’t score consistently and I think this will help the Leafs get through the game with a W.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Toronto -118
We should see a pretty even matchup on Thursday night. Toronto has the advantage in speed and goal scoring, though, so this should be a W for the Leafs
NHL Free Score Prediction: Toronto 4 – Colorado 2
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