Toronto Maple Leafs vs Anaheim Ducks Picks and Predictions December 12th 2024

Maple Leafs Aim to Stay Strong at Home Against Ducks

The Toronto Maple Leafs (16-8-3) host the Anaheim Ducks (11-12-4) on Thursday, looking to extend their recent success at home and capitalize on a struggling Ducks squad. Toronto comes off a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory against the New Jersey Devils, a game in which goaltender Anthony Stolarz played hero with 38 saves.

Toronto’s Goalie Heroics and Offensive Challenges

Anthony Stolarz delivered a stellar performance against New Jersey, keeping the Maple Leafs in the game despite being outshot 39-17. The Devils dominated the first period with a 16-1 shot advantage and scored the opening goal in the second. However, a short-handed goal by Pontus Holmberg tied the game in the third, setting the stage for Auston Matthews’ overtime winner—his 13th career OT goal, one shy of Mats Sundin’s franchise record.

Head coach Craig Berube acknowledged the lopsided effort but praised Stolarz and the team’s resilience:
“Our goalie was excellent. We found a way to get two points. That’s all that matters.”

Despite the win, the Maple Leafs’ offensive struggles, particularly at even strength, were evident. Toronto will look to improve its 5-on-5 play and rely less on Stolarz’s heroics as they host Anaheim.

Ducks Struggle to Find Consistency

The Ducks are winless in their past four games (0-3-1) and are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. Anaheim’s lone goal came from Cutter Gauthier, while John Gibson made 29 saves in a losing effort.

Anaheim welcomed back Leo Carlsson, who had missed six games with an upper-body injury. While Carlsson has shown flashes of brilliance this season with six goals and five assists in 21 games, he struggled to make an impact against Ottawa, logging 13:35 of ice time without recording a shot on goal.

Ducks head coach Greg Cronin expressed frustration with his team’s lack of competitiveness:
“We weren’t skating. They won faceoff battles, edge battles, and puck battles. It’s hard to compete when you’re behind the puck.”

The Ducks have struggled offensively this season, and they’ll need more contributions from players like Carlsson and their top performers to compete with Toronto.

Keys to the Game

For Toronto, maintaining defensive stability and improving 5-on-5 play will be crucial. The return of Max Domi, who played nearly 15 minutes against New Jersey after missing eight games, adds depth to the lineup. Matthews and the offense will look to capitalize on opportunities against a Ducks team that has struggled defensively.

Anaheim must address its lack of offensive consistency and capitalize on any chances against a Maple Leafs defense that has shown vulnerabilities. Improved energy and contributions from players like Carlsson and Gauthier will be key to keeping the game competitive.

By the Numbers

• Toronto at Home: The Maple Leafs boast a strong 12-4-0 record at home, including five wins in their past six games at Scotiabank Arena.
• Anaheim on the Road: The Ducks started their road trip 0-1-1 after a solid 4-0-1 stretch away from home but now look to rebound.

Who will dominate the boards? Find out in NBA Rebounds Leader Odds & Predictions!

Outlook

With the Maple Leafs riding momentum and the Ducks searching for answers, Toronto enters as the favorite. However, if Anaheim can find a spark offensively and tighten up defensively, they could challenge a Toronto team still working to find consistent even-strength scoring. This matchup sets the stage for an intriguing clash between a team with playoff aspirations and one looking to regain its footing.