Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions February 22nd 2025

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes February 22nd 2025

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Hurricanes versus the Maple Leafs? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NHLN. The game will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. The Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 in a Eastern conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.

Carolina vs. Toronto Key Information

• Teams: Hurricanes at Maple Leafs
• Where: Scotiabank Arena Toronto
• Date: Saturday, February 22nd
• Betting Odds CAR -123 | TOR +103 O/U 5.5

The Hurricanes Can Win If…

The Hurricanes improved to 33-19-4 with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. Carolina covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

Carolina scored first, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. The Hurricanes tied it up in the second period and took the lead with another goal before adding an empty-netter in the third.

Carolina took 45 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Washington, with Dmitry Orlov scoring twice. Orlov now has 3 goals this season, finding the net at 5:59 in the first period and again at 14:34 in the second.

Martin Necas, who scored his 6th goal of the season, also picked up his 12th assist on Orlov’s second goal. Andrei Svechnikov added an empty-netter, his 6th goal of the year. The Hurricanes had 14 giveaways in the game.

After allowing two late goals in the first period, Carolina’s defense tightened up, shutting out the Capitals in the second and third periods. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves with a 90.5% save percentage, while the Hurricanes’ defense added 7 takeaways and 10 hits.

• Carolina has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Across these games, their puck line record was just 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Carolina has a record of 6-4. In these contests, the team went just 4-6 against the spread, while going 4-6 on the over-under.

The Maple Leafs Can Win If…

Toronto fell to 33-20-2 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, with the combined score of 3 falling short of that mark.

The Wild struck first at 10:19 in the first period, but William Nylander tied it up for Toronto with just 52 seconds left in the period. The game remained tied until the Wild scored at 2:14 in overtime.

In their recent game, the Maple Leafs took 28 shots on goal but only managed to score once. William Nylander netted his 9th goal of the season, which came on a power play at 19:08 in the first period. This marked the team’s only goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild.

Auston Matthews picked up his 6th assist on Nylander’s goal, while Mitchell Marner added his 12th assist. The Leafs had 10 offensive giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Maple Leafs will look to build on their previous game, where they allowed just two goals to the Wild. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage. Toronto’s defense also recorded 2 takeaways and 30 hits. The only goal they allowed came 2:14 into overtime.

• Through their last three games, the Maple Leafs have a record of 2-1. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• The Maple Leafs have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 6-4 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Maple Leafs to take down the Hurricanes at home. With the moneyline currently at +103, I’m placing my bet on the Maple Leafs straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Maple Leafs winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Maple Leafs straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Maple Leafs Seek Home Victory Amid Road-Heavy February

The Toronto Maple Leafs return home for the first and only time this month as they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. Following a four-game road trip to start February, the Maple Leafs will play their next four games away from home, making Saturday’s game at Scotiabank Arena a rare opportunity to capitalize on home ice.

Both teams return to NHL action after the 4 Nations Face-Off, which saw Team Canada defeat Team USA 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night. The tournament finale featured players from both the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes, adding an extra layer of anticipation to Saturday’s matchup.

Stars Return from 4 Nations Face-Off

Toronto’s Mitchell Marner played a pivotal role for Canada, assisting on Connor McDavid’s overtime-winning goal, his second assist of the game. Auston Matthews represented the United States, contributing assists on both of his team’s goals and nearly scoring the winner in overtime. Despite their international commitments, both players are expected to suit up for Toronto on Saturday.

“You got somebody that’s going to go in and play?” joked Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube on Thursday. “As of right now, they’re playing (Saturday). These are big games.”

Defenseman Christopher Tanev hopes that the energy from the tournament will carry over into Toronto’s stretch run. “Hopefully they bring that energy back to us and sort of springboard us to where we want to get in the last two months of the season,” Tanev said.

Toronto Focused on Division Race

The Maple Leafs sit second in the Atlantic Division and are determined to narrow the gap with the first-place Boston Bruins. Tanev emphasized the importance of refining their game and improving consistency.

“Get back to what we’re doing well,” Tanev said. “Defending well, we need to have good special teams both ways and play a team game where we’re all involved and doing things for each other. That’ll go a long way.”

Defenseman Jake McCabe echoed Tanev’s sentiments, stressing the competitive nature of the playoff race. “Everyone’s fighting for something,” McCabe said. “Some are trying to fight to get into a playoff position. Some teams like ourselves are fighting to stay in playoff position and climb the ladder in our division. It’s going to be some good hockey down the stretch, and it’s important to find that consistency quickly after the break and get back to our winning ways.”

Forward Max Pacioretty, who left Thursday’s practice early, was rested on Friday. While his status remains uncertain, Berube downplayed the severity of the issue. “He tweaked something right when he went out there,” Berube said. “I don’t think it’s serious, but we’ll just have to see.”

Hurricanes Aim to Rebound After Pre-Break Struggles

The Carolina Hurricanes return from the break looking to snap a rough patch, having lost three of their last four games. Sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, the Hurricanes aim to close the gap on the first-place New York Rangers as they kick off the final stretch of the regular season.

Defenseman Jaccob Slavin and forward Seth Jarvis represented the Hurricanes at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Slavin played stellar defense for Team USA, while Jarvis made an impact for Team Canada. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour was impressed but not surprised by Slavin’s performance.

“He’s been lights out,” Brind’Amour said. “Nothing we didn’t know already.”

Carolina could receive a boost with the return of forward Tyson Jost, who has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Dec. 31. Jost returned to full practice on Tuesday, centering a line with Eric Robinson and Jack Roslovic.

“When I got hurt, I felt like I was playing a really, really solid game,” Jost said. “I liked where my game was going, and I was making a difference every time I was out there. It was just kind of a weird, freak play where I felt something snap.”

Explore comprehensive NHL Conference odds and predictions to see which teams are favored this season

Season Series and Playoff Implications

This is the second of three meetings between the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes this season. Carolina won the first matchup 6-3 at home on Jan. 9, with Toronto eager to even the series on Saturday. The teams will meet once more on March 24 in Raleigh.

With both teams battling for playoff positioning, Saturday’s game carries significant stakes. The Maple Leafs hope to capitalize on their lone home game of the month to gain ground in the Atlantic Division, while the Hurricanes look to build momentum and solidify their spot in the Metropolitan standings. As both teams welcome back key players from the 4 Nations Face-Off, expect an intense and fast-paced contest that could have postseason implications.