Dean Etheridge
Two in-form sides clash at the Scotiabank Arena when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night. Who will be victorious? Let’s find out in our free NHL betting picks.
- What; NHL
- Who; Toronto Maple Leafs vs Nashville Predators
- Where; Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
- When; Wednesday, January 11th, 2023
- Puck Drop; 7.30 pm ET
The Maple Leafs have won their last two, the Predators their last four – both sides are in decent form. The fixture is at the Scotiabank Arena though, and that should benefit the Maple Leafs.
But as well as winning their last four, the Predators are 7-1-2 in their last ten matches, and have won five out of their last six. There’s even a 5-3 win away to the Hurricanes included in that run. Such form could easily negate the home advantage for the Maple Leafs on this occasion.
That said, the Maple Leafs will be expected to win this. But with the Predators in such good form, a win for Toronto is far from a gimme.
Latest NHL Futures Betting
In NHL futures betting, the Predators’ form isn’t reflected in the latest odds. In the betting to win the Central Division, John Hynes’ team is a massive +3300. That puts them fifth in the betting. Way behind the Dallas Stars (+125), Winnipeg Jets (+290), Colorado Avalanche (+425), and the Minnesota Wild (+425).
As for the Maple Leafs, the top NHL betting sites see it as a two-way fight between themselves and the Boston Bruins to top the Atlantic Division. The Bruins are -600, with the Maple Leafs at +450. The Tampa Bay Lightning are next at a distant +1400.
In the latest conference betting, the Maple Leafs are +450 to win the Eastern Conference. The Predators are a huge +4000 to win the Western Conference. And finally, in the betting to win the 2023 Stanley Cup, the Maple Leafs are +750, with the Predators out at +7500.
The above odds are all taken from Bovada. For more information about them, please check out our Bovada sportsbook review. And for more 2023 Stanley Cup betting, our odds table below is stacked with the latest odds on who will win the cup this year.
| Stanley Cup Winner Betting 2023 |  |  |  |
| Boston Bruins | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +900 | +900 | +850 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1200 | +1200 | +1150 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1400 | +1300 | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +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 |
Maple Leafs have had a difficult start to 2023
Although they’ve won their last two, the form of Toronto over the New Year period has been a bit suspect. In their last six games they’ve won three, lost two, and lost a shootout (to the Blues) in the other.
Their form has slightly settled down in their last two matches with back-to-back wins. Since their disappointing 5-1 home defeat to the Kraken last Thursday, the Maple Leafs have beaten the Red Wings 4-1 at the Scotiabank, and they also defeated the Flyers 6-2 in Philadelphia on Monday.
LEAFS WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWIN!!@LGCanada | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/u1FYDkznge
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 9, 2023
In total this season, Toronto are 25-9-7. They sit second in the Atlantic Division with 57 points from 41 matches. Only the Boston Bruins are above them. All-in-all, they’re having a pretty good season.
Can the Predators make it five wins in a row?
And what of the Nashville Predators? Well, as you’ve already seen above, the best NHL betting sites don’t give them any chance of winning the Stanley Cup. But they are in decent form, and they have won five out of their last six. Their latest victory was a 3-0 away win over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.
🐝🐝🐝 pic.twitter.com/rQgTSZjXB9
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) January 10, 2023
Overall this season Nashville are 19-14-6. Whilst this isn’t the greatest record in the NHL, it is an improving one. In their last ten matches, their record reads 7-1-2. This run started on the night they defeated the Oilers in overtime at the Bridgestone Arena, just a few days before Christmas. At the time of that win, their record was a disappointing 13-13-4.
Maple Leafs vs Predators Betting and Picks
As is to be expected with Toronto playing at the Scotiabank, the Maple Leafs are the betting favorites. On the moneyline, Toronto is -190, with the Predators at +171.
The handicap market sees Nashville as favorites at -145 with a +1.5 goal start. Toronto are +125 from -1.5 goals. The total points spread is 6.5 goals. Over 6.5 is +104, under 6.5 is -115.
For me, the Maple Leafs have bounced back well with two wins since their shock 5-1 home defeat to the Kraken. And although Sheldon Keefe’s team does have a performance like the 5-1 loss in them, we can’t keep on worrying about that happening in the future.
So this means, with home advantage, I’m going for a Toronto win. With the Kraken defeat in mind, I’m not backing them at odds on, so my first betting pick is for the Maple Leafs to win on the handicap line at +125.
Seven goals are needed on the total points spread for over 6.5 to win. In their last five matches, this bet would have won three times for the Maple Leafs. and three times for matches involving the Predators.
The occasions seven or more goals weren’t scored was in the Maple Leafs’ 5-1 defeat to the Kraken, and their 4-1 win over the Red Wings. In the case of the Predators, under would have won in their 3-0 win over the Senators, and their 3-2 win over the Capitals.
With the exception of the 3-0 win for Nashville over the Senators, there have been goals at both ends recently for both these teams. So with odds against of +104 on over 6.5 goals, I think it’s worth a small risk.
