Dean Etheridge
After losing their second match in their last three on Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host the Seattle Kraken at the Scotiabank Arena on Thursday evening. Here we take a look at their chances in our latest free NHL betting picks.
- What; NHL
- Who; Toronto Maple Leafs vs Seattle Kraken
- Where; Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
- When; Thursday, January 5th, 2023
- Puck Drop; 7 pm ET
The Maple Leafs are enjoying a decent season on the whole. They may be some distance behind the Boston Bruins, the runaway leaders in the Atlantic Division, but they still sit second, with only the Tampa Bay Lightning for company.
In the Eastern Conference futures betting, the Maple Leafs are third at +500. This puts them behind the Boston Bruins (+285), and also behind the Carolina Hurricanes (+425). There is then a bit of a gap between the three leading franchises and the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are both at +800.
The above odds are taken from BetOnline. You can read more about them – including details of how to claim their welcome bonus – in our BetOnline sportsbook review.
| 2023 Stanley Cup Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Boston Bruins | +525 | +525 | +525 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 | +900 | +850 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +950 | +1000 | +950 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1400 | +1300 | +1200 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1600 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Florida Panthers | +1800 | +1800 | +1700 |
| Calgary Flames | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| New York Rangers | +2200 | +1900 | +2000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2200 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Dallas Stars | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
In the betting to win the 2023 Stanley Cup, Toronto are fourth favorites at +800. That puts them behind the Bruins (+525), the Colorado Avalanche (+700), and the Hurricanes (+750). More Stanley Cup betting can be found below in our odds table.
Maple Leafs looking to get back to winning ways
They may have gotten a hard fought point as their tweet suggests, but the Maple Leafs are still on a losing streak of one after going down against the Blues in a shootout.
Hard-fought point@LGCanada | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/JdLR6nKTuf
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 4, 2023
In their last ten matches, the Maple Leafs record reads 6-3-1. And it’s the three outright losses that suggest a slight dip in form over the holiday period. Defeats have come at the hands of the Coyotes (6-3), the Capitals (5-2), and the Rangers (3-1). All three losses were on the road though.
During that ten match run, Sheldon Keefe’s team has also defeated the Kings (5-0), the Lightning (4-1), and the Avalanche (6-2), all pretty impressive victories.
Across the season, the Maple Leafs are 23-8-7, with 53 points from their 38 matches. That’s nowhere near the Bruins who have 62 points from 37 matches played, but it’s decent enough. And the Bruins have been exceptional this season, and could serve as an inspiration to the Maple Leafs as to what can be achieved with the right attitude.
But after a run which has seen three losses, this is now the time the Maple Leafs really need to knuckle down and get a winning streak going. We’re coming to the business end of the season, and with the Avalanche also likely to improve down the home straight, Keefe knows this is the time for his young chargers to start laying down a marker.
Can the improving Kraken keep pace with the favorites?
The Seattle Kraken are a much improved side from last season and come into this match on a two match winning streak. They are currently third in the Pacific Division with plenty of games in hand on the leaders, which could see them go second behind leaders, the Vegas Golden Knights, should they win.
"Hockey is a game of 60 minutes, not 50.”
The Kraken came back from a two-goal deficit with a four-goal second period that lead to a 5-2 victory at @RogersPlace. Tony & Joaquin have your recap. @McDonaldsCanada | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/1I0G2RbCVr
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 4, 2023
Their two recent wins came against the Oilers (5-2 away), and the Islanders (4-1 at home). Prior to their victories, they managed to get thrashed 7-2 at home by the Oilers.
The best NHL betting sites don’t seem to think they will be in the mix at the end of the season though. BetOnline makes them +2200 to win the Western Conference (the Avalanche are the favorites at +325), and +5000 to win the Stanley Cup.
Maple Leafs vs Kraken Betting Picks
With home advantage, the Maple Leafs start the match as the -215 betting favorites on the moneyline. The Kraken are +193.
Seattle are getting the +1.5 goals start on the handicap, and with the advantage they are the -136 betting favorites. With the handicap disadvantage, the Maple Leafs are +116. The total goals spread is set at 6.5. Over 6.5 goals is -105, with under 6.5 at -115.
First up, I can only see a win for the Maple Leafs. Despite the good form of the Kraken, Toronto has been outstanding at home recently. And with the odds as they are, I think that it makes more sense to go for the better price and take the Maple Leafs to win on the handicap.
As for over and under betting, both teams have seen goals going in at both ends recently. The Maple Leafs’ last game was 5-5 at the end of regulation time, and I can’t see any reason to back under 6.5, so I am making over 6.5 goals my second betting pick.
