Following back-to-back losses, the Toronto Maple Leafs will wrap up a three-game road trip in Dallas on Sunday, looking at their toughest opponent in weeks.

These two teams are trending in opposite directions, as the Leafs have slipped to the bottom of the Atlantic Division, winning just two of their past six games. Dallas has been buzzing all season and sits just four points out of first place in the NHL. The NHL odds have the Stars as a heavy -210 favourite to win on Sunday night, with the total sitting at an even 6 goals. Puck drop from American Airlines Center is set for 7:00 PM EST.

Maple Leafs vs. Stars NHL Betting Odds

Sunday will be the first meeting of the season between Dallas and Toronto, who have not faced each other since January of last season. Dallas took a 4-1 win in that meeting, snapping a streak of seven straight victories for the Leafs. They will not cross one another until the very end of the season, scheduled for April 13.

Toronto’s season has been a disappointment for fans through 34 contests, as they sit dead last in the Division they won last year. The bad start is reflected in their record on the spread, as they sit 12-22, the second fewest covers in the league. They failed to cover in each of their past five contests. Their goal scoring has slipped out of the top 10 in the league after being held to three or fewer in their past seven games.

There are not many faults in the Stars’ game this season. The second-highest scoring offence (3.47 goals per game), paired with the fifth-best goals against (2.61 goals against per game), has gotten them to this point in the season. They have won their past three games, scoring a ridiculous 17 goals and hitting the OVER in their past two.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs have a long Christmas list this year, as they limp through their final two games before the break. They were booed by their home crowd on Tuesday, but battled back to steal a 3-2 win from the Chicago Blackhawks. After that one, it seemed like they exercised some demons before heading on their current road trip. Instead, being away from home has only seen their game dip even more.

They opened the road trip with a 4-0 loss on Thursday, getting blanked for the first time this season. Saturday, they landed in Nashville to face the Predators, who are sitting last in the league. Goals from John Tavares and Nicolas Roy put the Leafs ahead 2-1 at the midway point of the contest, but a tying goal in the final seconds of the second period crushed their spirit. The Preds scored three unanswered, going ahead 4-2 and went on to win it 5-3.

Toronto started goalie Joseph Woll on Saturday, getting him in goal for the second time since returning from injury. With Sunday’s game being the second of a back-to-back, expect Dennis Heldeby to get the crease versus Dallas. Hildeby, the Leafs’ third option in net, has been solid when called on this season, posting a .918 save percentage.

Dallas Stars

The Stars look to keep shining this week and try for their fourth straight win as they prepare for their Christmas break. They have a lot of momentum heading into this matchup on Sunday, fresh off a dominant 8-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

Dallas scored under three minutes into the game and did not let up, scoring four of their eight goals in the first period. They tacked on three more in the second to go up 7-1 and coasted through the third period for the 8-3 final. Jason Robertson led the charge with two goals and an assist, but it was a true team effort offensively, as only four players on the team ended the night pointless.

Backup goalie Casey DeSmith started for the 13th time this season and has been the starter for two of the team’s last three games. His .920 save percentage gives the Stars reliability in the backup position, giving them freedom to give Jake Oettinger days off.

Despite their consistently excellent play this season, odds makers are not showing Dallas much love, giving them the seventh-best odds at the Stanley Cup. The NHL Futures Board features the Stars at +1200 to be the champs. Keep in mind, they will likely have to go through either Minnesota or Colorado in round one.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Maple Leafs vs. Stars?