The Toronto Maple Leafs head to the American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Stars in one of the best games of the night. It's a key midseason clash as both of these teams are coming into this game smoking hot.
Both teams are facing off with identical win totals and are looking to separate themselves in a crowded playoff race as we approach the midpoint of the season.
With Dallas favored on home ice, this game is looking like it’ll be a close battle.
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +115 | Stars -135
Spread: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-225) | Stars -1.5 (+180)
Total Points: O 5.5 (-120) | U 5.5 (+100)
Be sure to shop the odds before you place your bets. Those odds are from DraftKings at the time of publishing, but sometimes BetMGM or even Bet365 have slightly better odds with a bit less juice.
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 18, 6:30 PM CST
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV/Streaming: ESPN+, VICT
The Maple Leafs are coming off an impressive 5-3 victory against Buffalo, showing that they’ve got some strong offensive rhythm. Sure, Buffalo isn’t looking too great this year, but wins like that can keep the momentum going.
Toronto’s star right winger William Nylander continues to shine with 18 goals and 31 points on the season which goes to show that he’s a constant threat.
However, Toronto’s defense has been somewhat shaky at times. They’re ranked 4th in goals against with only 81 so far, but somehow still show some inconsistency against elite teams like the Stars.
Goaltender Joseph Woll is most likely getting the nod for Toronto as their stud netminder Anthony Stolarz is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks for a minor surgery on his knee. Woll, however, has been solid with a 2.24 GAA and a .918 save percentage this season, but if any team can beat him, Dallas has the tools to test him.
On the other side of the rink, the Stars hold a slight defensive edge.
Dallas ranks 1st in the NHL for goals against with only 75 allowed and has a top-five penalty kill unit that is holding up at 83.9%.
Goalie Jake Oettinger has been nothing shy of rock-solid with a 2.32 GAA and .913 SV%, keeping opponents in check.
While Toronto unquestionably brings more firepower to the game with the likes of Nylander and Mitch Marner, the Stars’ balanced offense has been one of their bigger strengths.
Forward Matt Duchene leads the way with 13 goals and a +12 rating, while Roope Hintz remains a reliable option with 70 shots on goal. If these 2 can keep the pressure on Woll and the Maple Leaf defense, they might just have what it takes to notch the win.
Both teams enter with tons of momentum.
The Leafs have won 3 of their last 4 games, including a couple of close wins over Anaheim and New Jersey. Both are not a small task.
Meanwhile, Dallas is on a 2-game win streak, taking down both Washington and St. Louis in regulation. The Stars’ 6-2 win over Calgary earlier this month just goes to show their offensive depth and ability to overwhelm opponents during all 60 minutes of play.
Best Bet: Dallas Stars ML (-135)
The Stars’ home-ice advantage and defensive stability give them a slight edge here. We don’t see them totally dominating the Maple Leafs, but they’ve got everything to get the job done.
To top that off, Toronto has struggled against physical teams. Dallas fits that mold with a structured approach. We’re expecting Jake Oettinger to play a major role in tonight’s matchup as he will slow down Toronto’s high-flying offense and help the Stars pull off a gritty win.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Dallas Stars 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2