Toronto Maple Leafs vs Winnipeg Jets Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Winnipeg Jets December 23rd 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Jets and Maple Leafs. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 6 goals, and the Maple Leafs are favored by -1.5 vs. the Jets in a non-conference matchup.

Winnipeg vs. Toronto Key Information

• Teams: Jets at Maple Leafs
• Where: Scotiabank Arena Toronto
• Date: Monday, December 23rd
• Betting Odds TOR -117 | WPG -103 O/U 6

The Jets Can Win If…

With a 7-4 win over the Lightning, the Jets improved to 24-10-1. Winnipeg covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

After trailing 2-0 in the first period, the Jets responded with seven different players finding the net. Two of Winnipeg’s goals came with the Lightning’s net empty.

Winnipeg’s offense fired 34 shots on goal and scored twice on empty nets in their 7-4 win over Tampa Bay. The Jets got on the board with Vladislav Namestnikov’s third goal of the season in the first period, followed by Logan Stanley’s first goal in the second. Mark Scheifele added his eighth goal, while Alex Iafallo netted his first on a power play in the third.

Dylan Samberg scored his third goal, and Nikolaj Ehlers picked up his ninth on an empty net. Cole Perfetti closed out the scoring with his fourth goal, also on an empty net. Winnipeg had 7 offensive giveaways and recorded 10 assists in the game.

Defensively, the Jets had a tough start, allowing the first two goals of the game and another at 3-3 in the second period. After the Lightning tied it at 4-4 in the 3rd, the Jets’ defense held firm, leading to a 7-4 win. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves with an 86.7% save percentage, while the defense added 5 takeaways and 31 hits.

• Spanning across their last three games, Winnipeg have gone 2-1. However, they have only gone 1-2 vs. the puck line over this stretch. Their over-under record in these three games was 1-2.
• Winnipeg has put together a record of 6-4 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 3-6-1 over-under mark.

The Maple Leafs Can Win If…

Toronto fell to 21-11-2 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, but the combined score of 3 fell short of that mark.

After the Wild scored first, William Nylander tied it up with a goal at 19:08 in the first period. However, Minnesota secured the win with a goal at 2:14 into overtime.

William Nylander netted his 9th goal of the season in the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. The goal came at 19:08 in the first period and was on a power play. Auston Matthews recorded his 6th assist, while Mitchell Marner picked up his 12th.

Toronto fired 28 shots on goal but was held scoreless after the first period. The team had 10 giveaways in the game.

Toronto’s defense gave up the first goal at 9:41 in the 1st period, but they didn’t allow another until 2:14 into overtime. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage, while the Maple Leafs’ defense added 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

• Toronto will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Maple Leafs have gone 6-4 straight up. Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 5-4-1 over-under mark.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Maple Leafs to secure a victory over the Jets at home. With the moneyline currently set at -117, I’m locking in my bet on the Maple Leafs straight-up.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Maple Leafs to win and cover. Look for the Maple Leafs to win this one by multiple goals over the Jets.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Jets Aim to Overcome Maple Leafs, Seeking Revenge

The Winnipeg Jets visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday afternoon, looking to avenge their only previous meeting this season, a 6-4 loss on Oct. 28 that snapped Winnipeg’s perfect 8-0-0 start.

Jets Looking for Payback

The Winnipeg Jets (24-10-1) have been on a rollercoaster since their blazing 15-1-0 start to the season, going 9-9-1 in their last 19 games. However, the Jets are coming off one of their best efforts in recent memory, a dominant 5-0 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.

Connor Hellebuyck recorded his fourth shutout of the season, while Cole Perfetti contributed a goal and two assists.

“Another game like that, exactly,” Perfetti said of the team’s approach against Toronto. “We’ve had a tough time against Toronto the last few years. A lot of skill over there, and hopefully we can get one more on the road and head into Christmas feeling good.”

Winnipeg’s power play has been a key factor in its success, going 11-for-28 over the last seven games. Head coach Scott Arniel praised the team’s work ethic and consistency on the man advantage.

“Our movement and attack mindset, all of those things have been pretty consistent,” Arniel said.

Maple Leafs Dealing with Injuries

The Toronto Maple Leafs (20-12-3) had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. William Nylander scored twice, but the absence of captain Auston Matthews was felt.

Matthews, who has missed nine games this season with an upper-body injury, aggravated the issue after being crosschecked during Friday’s 6-3 win over Buffalo.

“He’s just doing everything he can to help this team,” teammate John Tavares said. “He’ll continue with everything he needs to do to get back as soon as possible.”

Toronto’s slow start against the Islanders, who scored twice in the first five minutes, frustrated head coach Craig Berube.

“You’re on a back-to-back, fresh team waiting for you who hasn’t played in a while, and we give up two two-on-ones in the first five minutes,” Berube said. “Wasn’t a good game.”

Discover detailed insights in NHL Atlantic Division Odds & Predictions.

Key Matchup

The Jets’ high-flying power play faces a Maple Leafs penalty kill that has been inconsistent at times. Winnipeg will look to continue its special teams dominance while shutting down Toronto’s offensive threats, including Nylander and Tavares.

For the Leafs, defensive discipline and goaltending will be critical, especially if Matthews remains sidelined. Toronto will aim to exploit Winnipeg’s recent inconsistencies and continue their dominance in this rivalry, having gone 2-0-0 against the Jets last season.

Players to Watch

John Tavares (Maple Leafs): With Matthews out, Tavares’ leadership and offensive contributions will be crucial.

Cole Perfetti (Jets): Coming off a three-point night, Perfetti’s offensive creativity will be pivotal against Toronto’s defense.

Connor Hellebuyck (Jets): With four shutouts this season, Hellebuyck’s strong play gives Winnipeg a chance to steal two points.

William Nylander (Maple Leafs): Nylander is Toronto’s hottest scorer, netting two goals in the loss to the Islanders.