Colorado Avalanche vs Toronto Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

Colorado Avalanche vs Toronto Maple Leafs March 8th 2025

The Maple Leafs and Avalanche are set to face off at 7:00 ET on NHLN. The Avalanche will host the game at Ball Arena in Denver, CO. The over/under for this game is set at 6.5 goals, and the Avalanche are favored by -1.5 vs. the Maple Leafs in a non-conference matchup.

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Toronto vs. Colorado Key Information

Toronto fell to 38-21-3 after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. The Maple Leafs were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that number.

All the scoring in regulation happened in the first period. The Wild struck first at 9:41, but William Nylander tied it up for the Maple Leafs with just 52 seconds left in the period. The game remained tied until the Wild scored the game-winner at 2:14 in overtime.

William Nylander netted his ninth goal of the season in the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. Nylander scored at 19:08 in the first period, tying the game 1-1 and converting on a power play. Auston Matthews picked up his sixth assist, while Mitchell Marner added his 12th assist of the season.

Toronto fired 28 shots on goal but struggled with giveaways, committing 10 in the game. After Nylander’s first-period goal, the Leafs were held scoreless through the second, third, and overtime periods.

Defensively, the Maple Leafs gave up the first goal at 9:41 in the first period and the game-winner at 2:14 into overtime. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage. Toronto’s defense added 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

With a 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche now sit at 37-24-2. Colorado led 1-0 early in the second period, but Nashville responded with five unanswered goals to seal the game.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark. Colorado, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover.

In their 5-2 loss to the Predators, the Avalanche took 30 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Cale Makar got things started with his 5th goal of the season, which came on a power play in the second period. Nathan MacKinnon added his 6th goal, scoring with just 2:17 left in the game.

Makar also picked up his 16th assist on MacKinnon’s goal. MacKinnon, in turn, assisted on Makar’s power-play goal, bringing his assist total to 14 for the season. The Avalanche had 23 giveaways in the game.

The Avalanche took a 1-0 lead at 17:06 in the second period, but their defense struggled after that, giving up five goals to the Predators. Nashville tied the game at 1-1 and added another goal at 1:20 in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. They scored again at 14:45 in the third period and added two empty-net goals late in the game. Justus Annunen made 21 saves with a save percentage of 87.5%.

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Maple Leafs to pick up on a win over the Avalanche and the road. With the moneyline sitting at +126, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Maple Leafs straight-up.

Our projections have the Maple Leafs pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Maple Leafs, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

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Fortified Avalanche to Debut New Players vs. Maple Leafs

The Colorado Avalanche were among the most active teams leading up to Friday’s trade deadline, and they will unveil a revamped lineup when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Avalanche Go All-In for a Cup Run

Colorado made two significant trades in the final 16 hours, acquiring centers Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders and Charlie Coyle from the Boston Bruins. Nelson, one of the most coveted veterans available, will slot into the second-line center role, while Coyle is expected to center the third line.

The Avalanche also bolstered their blue line by acquiring defenseman Ryan Lindgren last week and bringing back Erik Johnson, a key piece of their 2022 Stanley Cup run, in a deal with Philadelphia.

“It’s awesome to see, from our perspective, how much faith in us management has and how much they want to win right now,” defenseman Cale Makar said. “They’re trying to give us the best opportunity to do that.”

Makar, who set a franchise record with a six-point game against San Jose on Thursday, leads all NHL defensemen with 74 points (24 goals, 50 assists). Nathan MacKinnon is atop the league with 98 points (25 goals, 73 assists), while Nelson’s 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) immediately make him Colorado’s third-leading scorer.

The Avalanche currently sit fourth in the Central Division but hold the top Western Conference wild-card spot.

Maple Leafs Make Key Additions

Toronto was also active at the deadline, acquiring forward Scott Laughton from Philadelphia and defenseman Brandon Carlo from Boston. Laughton is projected to center the Leafs’ third line as they gear up for the postseason push.

“I’m letting it all sink in and kind of figuring out my way here, but I’m excited for a chance at the playoffs,” Laughton told TSN. “I’m very grateful for my time in Philly, to spend that much time in one organization. I’m excited for the opportunity and ready to go.”

The Maple Leafs are in a heated Atlantic Division race, sitting two points behind first-place Florida and just one ahead of Tampa Bay. Toronto is coming off a 5-2 loss to Vegas on Wednesday, the second defeat in a row to start a three-game road trip.

Mitch Marner leads the team with 77 points (19 goals, 58 assists), while William Nylander has a team-high 35 goals. Captain John Tavares and Auston Matthews each have 53 points, though Matthews has missed 15 games this season.

What to Expect

Both teams have made key acquisitions to solidify their playoff positioning, and Saturday’s matchup could provide a preview of what’s to come in the postseason. The Avalanche will be eager to integrate their new pieces, while the Maple Leafs aim to end their road stretch on a high note.

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