The Carolina Hurricanes (10-4-0) and Toronto Maple Leafs (8-6-1) meet Sunday. Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Maple Leafs won 2-1
The Hurricanes won 6-3 Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres, cashing as a huge favorite (-220) as the Over (6.5) cashed. Carolina had 6 different goal scorers, with RW Andrei Svechnikov delivering a goal on the power play. G Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves on 22 shots in the victory.
Carolina has won 3 in a row, and it is 5-3-0 on the road this season. The Over has cashed in back-to-back games, and the total has gone high in 4 of the past 6 contests.
The Maple Leafs lost 5-3 against the Boston Bruins as big favorites (-200) at home Saturday as the Over (6) cashed. LW Nicholas Robertson and C John Tavares had power-play goals in the losing effort. The Over has cashed in 10 consecutive games for Toronto, and the total has gone high at a 13-2-0 clip this season for the Leafs.
Hurricanes at Maple Leafs odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:43 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Maple Leafs +105 (bet $100 to win $105)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (+180) | Maple Leafs +1.5 (-220)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -130 | U: +105)Hurricanes at Maple Leafs projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (6-4-0, 2.81 GAA, .883 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Cayden Primeau (2-1-0, 4.30 GAA, .838 SV%)
Andersen allowed 3 goals on 24 shots in a 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, and he has allowed 5 goals on 46 shots in 2 starts in November, posting a 2.53 GAA and .891 SV%.
Primeau was knocked around for 6 goals on 24 shots in his most recent start at Columbus on Oct. 29. He has allowed at least 3 goals in each of his 3 starts to date.
Hurricanes at Maple Leafs picks and predictionsPrediction
Hurricanes 4, Maple Leafs 3
The HURRICANES (-130) are a solid play as moderate favorites against the Maple Leafs on the road.
Both of these teams are playing on no rest. This is the first time Carolina has played without any rest this season. Toronto is playing on no rest for the third time. It is 2-1-0 in those 3 games. Each time Primeau started in those games, winning twice. However, Toronto has allowed 3 or more goals in 9 of the past 10 games, and defense and goaltending has been an adventure.
The Maple Leafs +1.5 (-220) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough return if you’re a bit on the conservative side.
PASS, and just play the moneyline instead. There is no value here.
OVER 6 (-130) is the lean, but roll with a half-unit play at best.
The Over has cashed in 10 straight games for the Maple Leafs, and the total has gone high in each of Primeau’s 3 starts when Toronto is playing with no rest.
The Over has cashed in 2 in a row for Carolina, too, while going 4-2 in the past 6 games. But, it’s Toronto driving this Over train.
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