Toronto Maple Leafs - Pittsburgh Penguins predictions and free betting tips [08/04/2024]

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off tomorrow morning as part of the regular NHL championship.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are holding a strong playoff position with 97 points (44-23-9), solidifying their stance after their 4:2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto's key player, Auston Matthews, is inching closer to hitting the 70-goal mark this season, having scored his 64th goal in this match. Matthews gathered 106 points in the previous season, demonstrating impressive productivity. After missing 12 matches, Marner returned to the game with an assist in the last meeting, helping the team remain at the top of the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs stand out with an average of 3.62 goals per game and a power play effectiveness of 24.3%, attesting to their strong offensive game.

Matthews leads the team's top scorers with 64 goals, whilst William Nylander and John Tavares have also made significant contributions to the attack. Defensive metrics of the team need improvement, with an average of 3.09 goals conceded per game, placing them 17th in the league in defence. After returning from the waiver draft, Ilya Samsonov has allowed 107 goals from 1002 shots. Recent games show that the Maple Leafs are capable of confident gameplay, demonstrating 5 wins and 5 defeats in their last 10 matches.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have strengthened their playoff positions, extending their winning streak to four games, after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhilarating duel with a scoreline of 5:4. This success has elevated their overall record to 36-30-11, garnering 83 points and a playoff exit at the moment. Michael Bunting, previously from the Maple Leafs, notably scored the winning goal in the third period, bringing the match to victory after the Lightning levelled the score, overcoming a three-goal deficit. In addition to the decisive goal, Bunting added 2 assists to his tally. 

Pittsburgh's gameplay remains consistent, scoring an average of 3.03 goals per match and harnessing 14.6% of power play opportunities. Crosby leads the team with 40 goals, with Karlsson trailing with 42 assists and Malkin tallying 183 shots on goal. The Penguins' defence allows 2.95 goals per game, making them one of the strongest teams in the league defensively.

Head-to-Head Meetings

In their last meeting on 17th December 2023, Toronto triumphed with a convincing 7:0 victory over Pittsburgh. Previously on 26th November, the game also ended in favour of Toronto with a 3:2 scoreline. However, in earlier matches, the results varied: Pittsburgh won 3:2 on 27th November 2022, Toronto bested Pittsburgh 4:1 on 16th November 2022, and again prevailed with a 5:2 victory on 12th November 2022. In an even earlier meeting on 27th November 2022, Pittsburgh defeated Toronto 4:2.

Prediction for the Toronto Maple Leafs - Pittsburgh Penguins Match

Both teams are on good winning streaks and have taken 4 out of their last 5 matches. However, the Penguins desperately need points as they fight with the Capitals, Islanders, and Flyers for 2 playoff spots. It's unlikely that Toronto will overtake Florida and claim 5th place in the East. My bet is on Pittsburgh with insurance.