The Toronto Maple Leafs (5-4-1) and Columbus Blue Jackets (5-4-0) meet Wednesday. Puck drop from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Blue Jackets won 2-1
Toronto picked up a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames Tuesday as a moderate (-170) favorite as the Over (6) cashed. Forwards Max Domi and Matthew Knies each had 2 goals in the win. The Maple Leafs have won back-to-back games for just the second time this season, and it is looking for 3 wins in a row for the first time. The Over has cashed in 5 in a row, averaging 3.2 goals per game (GPG), while allowing 4.0 GPG in the 5-game span.
Columbus topped the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday. F Miles Wood scored the winner in overtime. It won its previous game on no rest, topping the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in a shootout on Oct. 25. The Jackets have won 4 of the past 5 games, averaging 3.6 GPG, and they have allowed 4.0 GPG in the past 3 outings.
Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:53 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Maple Leafs -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Blue Jackets -115 (bet $115 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Maple Leafs -1.5 (+220) | Blue Jackets +1.5 (-275)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets projected goalies
Cayden Primeau (2-0-0, 3.46 GAA, .875 SV%) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (3-1-0, 2.96 GAA, .914 SV%)
After Anthony Stolarz allowed 3 goals on 29 shots in the 4-3 win over the Flames Tuesday, it’s all but likely Primeau makes his third start of the season. He has picked up 2 wins in 2 starts, but he has conceded 7 goals on 56 shots. He has yet to start on the road so far.
Merzlikins has picked up 3 wins in 4 starts, while allowing 3 or more goals in 3 of his 4 outings. He has appeared in just 1 game at home, a 4-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche, turning aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced on Oct. 16.
Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets picks and predictionsPrediction
Blue Jackets 4, Maple Leafs 3
The BLUE JACKETS (-115) are worth a look in this coin-flip game, as the goaltender scales are tipped in their favor.
Toronto has yet to win 3 games in a row this season, and the streak will continue on Wednesday evening in C-Bus.
The Blue Jackets +1.5 (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.
PASS, and if you like Columbus, just play it straight up.
OVER 6.5 (-120) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over has cashed in the past 2 games for Columbus, with a combined average of 8.0 GPG. However, the Under was 5-1-1 in the first 7 games, so proceed with caution.
For Toronto, though, the Over has cashed in 5 in a row, and 8 of the first 10 games this season, so that’s why going high is the best play.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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