Maple Leafs vs Jets Betting Preview

Here is a brief Maple Leafs vs Jets betting preview, as the Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the Winnipeg Jets in a Northern Division Battle for supremacy in the National Hockey League (NHL).

The Toronto Maple Leafs have clinched the first seed in the Northern Division with a record of 35-13-6 to total 76 points. They had their own Covid issues and shaky goalie play, but they fought through it to claim the title as kings of Canada for the regular season. Behind Auston Matthews’ league-leading 40 goals and Jack Campbell’s 2.11 goals-against average, the Maple Leafs are the clear team to beat in the Canadian division.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets won 5-0 on Tuesday night against the Canucks, and that solidified their spot in the third seed to fend off the pesky Canadiens. The Jets would have had to lose Tuesday night, and the Canadiens would’ve had to win their last game against Edmonton, and then every Canadiens fan would be watching this game as the biggest Maple Leafs fan ever. But the Jets took care of business, and the Canadian division is all set in stone and ready for the playoffs that start on Saturday.

Toronto Maple Leafs betting preview

Since the Maple Leafs have the top seed wrapped up in the Canadian division, don’t expect guys like Matthews, Tavares, Marner, or Nylander to play a full 20 minute ice time game. Expect players like Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, and Wayne Simmons to get more ice time in this game. None of the Canadian teams have anything to play for, really, so if you can help it, I would stay away from betting Hockey until the playoffs, but why not dive into some numbers anyway.

The Maple Leafs have covered a 1.5 goal spread against the Jets more often than most teams covering a 1.5 spread, covering 1.5 in four of the nine games they’ve played against the Jets this season. Maple Leafs also lead this season series against the Jets with a record of 6-3 against them this season. The Maple Leafs have an away record of 17-6, but against the spread on the road are 11-15. That 17-6 road record is going to pop out at people during the playoffs, this is the team to beat in the Northern division.

Winnipeg Jets betting preview

The Jets will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, where they lost in the first round to the eventual champions, the St. Louis Blues. With an overall record of 29-23, the Jets have the third seed in the Canadian division locked up and will face the Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. The Jets were great this season due to their first line of Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Kyle Connor, who all had 45+ points this season. Plus, their stellar play from their net-minder Connor Hellebuyck, who posted a 23-17 record with 2.60 goals allowed average to go along with a .92 save percentage this season.

The Jets have been one of the best teams in the NHL, with an overall record of 34-21 against the spread this season. This game will be on the road in Toronto, where the Jets are 14-13 this season. The season series between these two teams is 6-3 in favor of Toronto, but the Jets have covered a +1.5 spread in five of those games.

Maple Leafs vs. Jets odds and lines

Vegas sportsbooks have opened the odds with the Maple Leafs favored by 1.5 goals with the over/under set at 5.5.

Free pick of the night

My free pick of the night is Winnipeg Jets +1.5 with odds of -175.