Minnesota Wild vs Toronto Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions November 3rd 2024

Looking to win big? The Maple Leafs and Wild face off at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The Wild are hosting the game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The over/under for this game is set at 6 goals, and the Wild are favored by -1.5 vs. the Maple Leafs in a non-conference matchup.

Toronto vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Maple Leafs at Wild
• Where: Xcel Energy Center St. Paul
• Date: Sunday, November 3rd
• Betting Odds MIN -120 | TOR +100 O/U 6

The Maple Leafs Can Win If…

After a 4-2 loss to the Blues, the Maple Leafs now sit at 6-5-1. Toronto led 1-0 after the first period, but St. Louis scored four unanswered goals, including an empty-netter, to seal the win.

Toronto was favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the combined score matched that exactly.

Toronto’s offense managed 37 shots on goal but only found the net twice in a 4-2 loss to St. Louis. Steven Lorentz scored his second goal of the season, while Mitchell Marner added his second goal as well, opening the scoring in the first period.

Toronto had 11 giveaways and didn’t score on the power play. Lorentz’s goal came at 6:08 in the third period, while Marner’s was at 14:35 in the first. Conor Timmins picked up his third assist of the season on Marner’s goal.

Toronto’s defense will look to bounce back after allowing four goals to the Blues, including three in the second period. Joseph Woll made 20 saves with a save percentage of 87%, and the Maple Leafs’ defense recorded 7 takeaways and 18 hits. The final goal was an empty-netter from the Blues.

• Over their last three games, the Maple Leafs have gone 2-1 straight up. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 1-1-1 in those same games.
• Across Toronto’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 5-5. Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 5-3-2 over-under mark.

The Wild Can Win If…

With a 5-3 win over the Lightning, the Wild improved to 7-1-2 this season. Minnesota covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, with the teams combining for 8.

After trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Wild tied it up in the second and scored four times in the third. Kirill Kaprizov led the way with two goals, including an empty-netter to seal the victory.

Kirill Kaprizov led the way for the Wild with two goals, including his 8th of the season on an empty net. He also picked up his 14th assist on Joel Eriksson Ek’s 5th goal of the year. Brock Faber added his 2nd goal, while Matt Boldy netted his 6th, also on an empty net.

Despite 14 giveaways, the Wild managed 22 shots on goal and scored four times in the 3rd period. Frederick Gaudreau recorded his 3rd assist, while Marco Rossi and Mats Zuccarello each added their 7th assist of the season.

Minnesota’s defense gave up the first goal just 45 seconds into the game and another at 6:23 of the 3rd period, but they held on for a 5-3 win. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves with a 90% save percentage, and the Wild’s defense recorded 5 takeaways and 22 hits.

• The Wild have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. In these games, they have a 2-1 record vs the puck line and an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Minnesota has a record of 7-3. In these contests, the team went just 7-3 against the spread, while going 5-4-1 on the over-under.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Maple Leafs to secure a victory over the Wild on the road. With the moneyline currently set at +100, I’m locking in my 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.

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.

The Minnesota Wild are off to an impressive start this season, and they’ll be looking to keep their momentum alive when they face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday evening in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild have been rolling, having won six of their last seven games and earning at least one point in nine of their first ten contests, a testament to the team’s strong early-season form.

Wild Playing with Confidence

Minnesota’s defenseman Brock Faber highlighted the stark contrast between this season and last, attributing much of their early success to a newfound confidence. “It’s definitely a different feel,” said Faber, who grew up in nearby Maple Grove, Minnesota. “We’re playing with a lot more confidence every night, expecting to win every night. We’re on the right path.”

Faber, a second-year player, has become a reliable presence on the blue line, and the entire team has stepped up, showing impressive composure in critical situations. This season, the Wild have demonstrated their resilience and ability to handle pressure, traits that defenseman Jake Middleton says are crucial. “It’s resiliency,” Middleton said. “We’ve been doing that since the start of training camp. We’re one of the hardest-working teams and one of the smartest-working teams, and when you have work ethic behind it and confidence, it doesn’t matter what the score is.”

Goaltending Battle

The Wild will likely turn to Filip Gustavsson between the pipes. Gustavsson has been excellent so far, boasting a 5-1-1 record with a 2.29 goals-against average (GAA) and a .919 save percentage. Despite these impressive numbers, Gustavsson has had his struggles against the Maple Leafs in the past, going 1-1-1 with a 3.98 GAA and an .867 save percentage in three career matchups. Last season, he endured a rough outing against Toronto, surrendering seven goals on 33 shots. However, given his strong form this year, the Wild are hopeful that Gustavsson will fare better this time around.

Maple Leafs Seeking Answers

The Toronto Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are coming off a 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. The defeat was frustrating for Toronto, as their power play failed to convert on four opportunities. Mitch Marner and Steven Lorentz scored for the Maple Leafs, but the team was unable to capitalize on crucial moments.

Marner, in particular, expressed the team’s frustration with the lack of power-play success. “I don’t know,” Marner said when asked about the struggles. “We’re working on it, non-stopping. We’re trying to figure things out. It’s not like we’re not trying. We just have to stay patient, keep practicing and keep pushing. We know we can do better and find ways to improve. It’ll eventually click.”

Toronto’s power play has been a critical area of focus, and there is pressure mounting for the unit to deliver results. Despite the struggles, the Maple Leafs have managed to collect points in seven of their first twelve games, so there is still plenty of optimism surrounding their overall play.

Goalie Matchup: Stolarz vs. Gustavsson

With Joseph Woll having started on Saturday against the Blues, the Maple Leafs are expected to turn to Anthony Stolarz in net. Stolarz has had a solid start to the season, posting a 4-2-1 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .916 save percentage. However, his career numbers against the Wild aren’t as promising. In four games versus Minnesota, Stolarz is 1-3-0 with a 4.12 GAA and an .893 save percentage. His lone appearance against the Wild last season was brief but decent, as he allowed one goal on ten shots as a member of the Florida Panthers.

On the other hand, the Wild are counting on Gustavsson to maintain his strong early form. With the team playing well in front of him and showing a commitment to a strong defensive structure, Gustavsson should be in a good position to deliver a solid performance.

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Keys to the Game

Minnesota’s Resilience

The Wild have demonstrated an impressive ability to bounce back from deficits, and they will need to continue that mindset against a dangerous Maple Leafs team. Maintaining a high level of energy and smart, hard-working play will be critical. Minnesota’s strong forechecking and disciplined defensive approach have been crucial components of their success.

Toronto’s Power Play

The Maple Leafs’ ability to convert on the power play could be a game-changer. They need to improve their execution and capitalize on special teams to avoid being outworked by a Wild team that has been tenacious at even strength. With talent like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the power play is too potent on paper to remain stagnant for long.

Goaltending Performance

With both teams relying on solid goaltending, the duel between Gustavsson and Stolarz could be pivotal. Gustavsson will aim to put his past struggles against Toronto behind him, while Stolarz will hope to deliver a strong outing to keep the Leafs competitive. Whichever goalie can make timely saves may swing the momentum in their team’s favor.

What’s at Stake

The Wild are looking to continue their strong start and build upon the confidence they’ve developed early in the season. On the flip side, the Maple Leafs are hoping to find more consistency, particularly on the power play, and will be eager to rebound from Saturday’s defeat. Both teams understand the importance of gaining points early in the season, making this matchup an exciting and high-stakes affair.