Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs Betting Picks

This is a crucial spot for both Ottawa and Toronto, with each team outside the playoff picture. Only one team can be trusted. And it's not Toronto. A much-needed sense of urgency and fire have not been there for Toronto. It looked like the Maple Leafs were going to start to make a move with three consecutive victories leading into the Winter Olympic break. However, Toronto came off the three-week break by losing to the Lightning, 4-2, this past Wednesday and 5-1 to the Panthers this past Thursday. Both of those games were on the road. Now the Maple Leafs are home for the first time since Jan. 27. Toronto has lost its last five home games, with four of the defeats by three goals. Ottawa was 5-1 going into the Olympic break. The Senators, however, suffered a tough, 2-1, home overtime loss to the Red Wings this past Thursday in their first game since the break. Detroit goalie John Gibson was fantastic in that game. The Maple Leafs don't have that kind of defense and goaltending. They rank 27th defensively. Lay 1.5 goals on the puckline with the Senators.

The Senators have been itching for this game, not just because they went into the three-day Christmas break with a 3-2 overtime home loss to the Sabres. No, this game has been circled for the Senators ever since the Maple Leafs eliminated them in six games in a first-round playoff series last season. Ottawa had won four games in a row by a combined 11 goals until slipping against Buffalo as a $1.63 favorite. The Senators have scored 18 goals in their last four games, while the Maple Leafs have allowed 17 goals in their previous four games. Toronto is having a down season so far with the second-fewest points in the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs are 3-6 in their last nine games. They rank 25th defensively, give up the second-most shots on goal, and have the lowest power play percentage. Take the Senators.

Toronto leads the series, 3-2, with the pressure on the home team to win or their season is over. Toronto's offense has averaged 3.0 goals in the postseason after being ranked seventh during the regular season (3.26 goals per game), and the Leafs are looking to bounce back after getting shut out in Game 5. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube called out the Auston Matthews/Mitch Marner line after the defeat. Matthews, Marner, and Matthew Knies were on the ice for every Ottawa goal. Ottawa's offense was 18th in goals scored and 24th in shooting percentage during the regular season, while Toronto was third in save percentage and eighth in goals given up. Play Toronto.