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Maple Leafs vs. Stars Game Preview & Expert NHL Betting Pick

Written by on January 25, 2018

NHL Betting News
There are some professional sports teams that have a great history, but who have gone through an extended spell of futility. In baseball, the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs fit that bill before finally winning championships. In football, there are teams who have been around since the start, but who have yet to win a championship. When you talk about the history of hockey, you need to talk about the original six teams, and from that group, it is the Toronto Maple Leafs who have been the longest suffering, as their last Stanley Cup triumph came all the way back in 1967, and their NHL betting odds to win it this year are not very good. Nevertheless, the arrival of Mike Babcock as head coach last season saw things start to turn around in Toronto, but this is a big ship that does not turn quickly. Toronto is in good shape this season in terms of the playoff picture, and they will try to continue their positive play when they head to Dallas to take on the Stars, another team very much in the playoff picture, on Thursday night.

Toronto at Dallas Game Preview & Expert NHL Betting Pick

  • When: Thursday, January 25 at 8:30 PM EST
  • Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
  • TV: TSNT/FSSW
  • Radio: 1050 AM (Toronto) / 96.7 FM (Dallas)
  • Live Stream: NHL.tv
  • NHL Betting Odds: Dallas Stars -1.5

Team Records

  • All: Toronto Maple Leafs 27-18-5 / Dallas Stars 28-17-4
  • Home: Toronto Maple Leafs 13-8-2 / Dallas Stars 17-6-1
  • Away: Toronto Maple Leafs 14-10-3 / Dallas Stars 11-11-3
  • As Favorite: Toronto Maple Leafs 20-9-5 / Dallas Stars 22-11-2
  • As Underdog: Toronto Maple Leafs 7-9 / Dallas Stars 6-6-2
  • ATS: Toronto Maple Leafs 18-32 / Dallas Stars 25-24
  • Over/Under: Toronto Maple Leafs 22-23-5 / Dallas Stars 28-20-1

How to Bet Predators at Devils NHL Spread & Game Info

Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)

  • Score: Toronto Maple Leafs 3.40 / Dallas Stars 2.60
  • Shots: Toronto Maple Leafs 29.70 / Dallas Stars 35.20
  • Power Play Goals: Toronto Maple Leafs 9 / Dallas Stars 4
  • Number of Power Play Goals: Toronto Maple Leafs 35 / Dallas Stars 29
  • Power Plays Percentage: Toronto Maple Leafs 25.71 / Dallas Stars 13.79
  • Penalty Kill Percentage: Toronto Maple Leafs 86.21 / Dallas Stars 74.29

Why bet on the Toronto Maple Leafs?

The Atlantic Division has seen three teams, the Maple Leafs among them, pull away from the pack, to the point where it looks as though a playoff spot for Toronto is all but guaranteed, even with close to half the season still to come. The Maple Leafs are 13 points up on the 4th place Detroit Red Wings, and while they are in a comfortable spot, they will almost certainly not be pleased with how inconsistent they have been for the majority of the season. Toronto certainly knows how to put the puck in the net, evenly spreading out the scoring and landing in the top 10 in GPG with 3.1. They are a little less solid on defense, though, and are giving up 2.9 GPG. Going on the road will not concern this team, as they are currently sitting 4 games above .500 away from home. Their current run of form has seen them go 4-3-3 in their last 10 games.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Goals: 3.16
  • Shots: 31.32
  • PP/PK Percentage: 20.42
Defense
  • Goals: 2.90
  • Shots: 33.66
  • PP/PK Percentage: 17.11

Why bet on the Dallas Stars?

Over in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars are sitting in 4th in the Central Division with 60 points, and they are a team on a bit of a hot streak at the moment, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The race in that division is tight, with the Stars just 5 points out of first place, so a win here can help propel them even further up the standings, which in turn would distance them a little further from the playoff line. Playing at home, the Stars come in as slight NHL Betting favorites against the Maple Leafs. As things stand now, Dallas is in the first Wild Card spot, just 3 points up on the chasing pack. The Stars have created a very nice balance with their current line-up and are in the top 10 in both goals scored and conceded at 3.1 GPG and 2.6 GPG, respectively. Their power play has been very effective, too, although their penalty killing unit has left a little to be desired.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Goals: 3.14
  • Shots: 31.61
  • PP/PK Percentage: 20.81
Defense
  • Goals: 2.65
  • Shots: 29.51
  • PP/PK Percentage: 18.24

Latest NHL Betting Trends

  • Maple Leafs are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games
  • Maple Leafs are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Toronto’s last 10 games
  • Stars are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
  • Stars are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 9 of Dallas’s last 13 games

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This looks like a pretty even match between a pair of very good teams, but it is Dallas who hold the hot hand right now, as well as home ice advantage in this one. I’m taking Dallas as my NHL betting pick, but this one might need OT to decide things. Score: Toronto Maple Leafs 3 – Dallas Stars 4
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