The Toronto Maple Leafs have finally climbed to the second spot in the Eastern Conference. The team had been striving for this position for a long time, and throughout the second half of the championship, they have looked more than solid. However, there is no room for complacency, as they currently hold 78 points, leading their closest rival by just one point. The team is in great form and is riding a five-game winning streak.
Recently, the Maple Leafs secured a convincing away win against Chicago (5:2), proved their superiority over Boston (5:4 OT), and, after a tough victory against the Rangers (3:2), managed to overcome Pittsburgh in overtime (6:5). More often than not, the Leafs have displayed outstanding offensive play, breaking through their opponents’ defense at least three times per game. Unsurprisingly, Auston Matthews has been a key player, contributing either a goal or an assist in nearly every game, accumulating 51 points in the goal+assist system.
Overall, Toronto relies on fast-paced, high-scoring hockey. Under head coach Craig Berube, the team excels in the second period, where they have an impressive 75:49 goal differential. Additionally, their power play is one of the most efficient in the league, boasting a 23.1% conversion rate. Injuries and Suspensions: Hakanpää, Järnkrok, Pacioretty, Tanev, and Lorentz will miss the upcoming game due to injuries.
Betting Trends
The San Jose Sharks are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, making them the league’s biggest underdogs. While they still have a chance to climb out of last place, they need to break their lengthy losing streak and close a four-point gap behind Chicago. Currently, they are enduring an eight-game losing streak, with three of those losses coming in overtime.
Recently, on home ice, the Sharks suffered a heavy defeat against Dallas (3:8), followed by road losses to Calgary (1:2), Winnipeg (1:2 OT), and Montreal (3:4 OT). They also struggled against Ottawa, losing 3:5. Defensive issues remain their biggest problem, as they have consistently allowed at least three or four goals per game. In fact, San Jose has the worst defense in the league this season, often failing to contain opposing offenses.
On the road, Ryan Warsofsky’s team has performed even worse, managing only four regulation-time victories so far. Their weakest period is the first, where they have a disappointing 45:71 goal differential. Injuries and Suspensions: Rutta, Couture, Kovalenko, and Thrun will not play due to injuries.
Betting Trends
Looking at the teams’ current form and strengths, Toronto is the clear favorite in this matchup. The Maple Leafs have been playing dominant hockey, scoring consistently, and showcasing solid power plays. Meanwhile, San Jose has major defensive weaknesses and is struggling both at home and on the road. Toronto’s high-scoring offense, led by Auston Matthews, is likely to exploit the Sharks’ vulnerable defense. Expect a confident win for the Maple Leafs, possibly with a scoreline around 5:2 or 6:3.
Toronto is clearly the favorite compared to the Sharks and is expected to secure a victory in the upcoming matchup, especially if they want to maintain control of second place in the Eastern Conference. The Leafs are in excellent form, riding a long winning streak, while the Sharks continue to struggle with consecutive losses. Previous encounters between these two teams have usually ended in dominant victories for the home side. Toronto outmatches San Jose in virtually every aspect, so we recommend betting on their victory with a -1.5 Asian handicap.
Prediction: Toronto to win with an Asian handicap (-1.5) at 1.75.
