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Maple Leafs vs Capitals Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight – NHL

Published

11 months ago

October 24, 2023

Toronto has had its fair share of issues to start the season, but the Washington Capitals haven’t fared much better. The Leafs have spent plenty of time in their opponent’s zone, and our NHL picks expect Matthews to take advantage of that Tuesday.

Welcome to the Frozen Frenzy folks! Thirty-two teams. Sixteen games. One night filled with hockey — and it gets underway with a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals.

Both of these teams are on opposite ends of their Stanley Cup window, but an Auston Matthews vs. Alex Ovechkin showdown is sure to provide us with great value in the NHL player props market.

However, it’s been a struggle for Washington in the early part of the season… can Toronto take advantage? The NHL odds suggest it can. Find out how in my free NHL picks for this October 24 matchup between the Maple Leafs vs. Capitals.

Maple Leafs vs Capitals odds

Maple Leafs vs Capitals predictions

The Toronto Maple Leafs head into tonight’s matchup against the Washington Capitals on a winning note after a comeback win over the Lightning in overtime on Saturday night. The Leafs will hope to carry that momentum forward and make easy work of the struggling Caps.

It’s been a tough start for Washington, sitting at 1-2-1 with just five goals to its name. A large reason for those offensive struggles is that the puck seems to be in the Capitals’ end of the ice more than on the opposition’s. According to NHL Edge, the Caps have spent just 37.5% of time in the offensive zone compared to 45.5% of the game on their own end, leading to an average of 33 shots against a night.

Those numbers are nearly reversed for Toronto, which ranks in the 90th percentile in the league when it comes to offensive zone time, which has led to a league-high 38.6 shots per game.

Enter Auston Matthews, the Maple Leafs’ shooting machine and top offensive weapon.

With all of this ice time in the O-zone this season, Matthews has been able to fire pucks on goal at will, averaging six shots on goal per game. Considering the Caps’ defense is giving up 33 shots on net a night, that should be ample opportunity for Matthews to register 5+ shots — a number he’s hit four of five times this year.

In fact, the lone game Matthews didn’t hit the number was Saturday night against Tampa, and that was because he was saddled next to trigger-happy William Nylander for most of the night, who registered six shots in the contest. Monday’s practice lines suggest Matthews will be flanked by Mitch Marner and Calle Jarnkrok on Tuesday, and neither should be a big threat to steal shot attempts from 34.

Additionally, Washington has been the third-most penalized team in hockey, averaging 4.75 penalties per game. Presumably, there will be a few chances for Matthews to pad his shot total on the power play to try and reach the Over.

My best bet: Auston Matthews Over 4.5 shots on goal (-125 at SIA)

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Maple Leafs vs Capitals same-game parlay

Matthews anytime goalscorer

Leafs to score first

Leafs Over 3.5 goals

My best bet is ineligible for the same-game parley, but how about one of those five shots from Matthews finding its way into the back of the net with an anytime goal?

After recording back-to-back hat tricks to start the year, Matthews has not found the score sheet since. That said, he does have 18 shots in those three games, with 3.27 goals scored below expectation according to Natural Stat Trick. With him playing against a team giving up high-volume shots like Washington, he could find a way to make one drop tonight.

The next part of tonight’s SGP is for the Maple Leafs to score the game’s first goal. Washington has been a slow starter in games and has yet to record a first-period tally, being outscored 5-0 in the opening frame. The Leafs offense should be able to take advantage of the weak defensive play from the Capitals and net the game’s first tally.

For the final leg of my parlay, I’ll also take the Buds to score Over the team total of 3.5 goals. Toronto averages the most quality scoring chances in the league this season and has cashed on this play in three of the five games this year. As for Washington, it’s given up 3.66 goals per game while allowing the ninth most high-danger chances given up.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Maple Leafs vs Capitals moneyline and Over/Under analysis

Toronto opened up as a -160 favorite but has since climbed slightly to -165 with 70% of the public siding with the Buds — making up 80% of the total money wagered.

The Caps enter as +140 home dogs. Toronto has won four of the last five meetings between these two clubs and boasts a clear-cut superior lineup tonight in all aspects of the game. If you feel as confident in the Leafs as the public, you can get them to win in regulation at -110 or Toronto on the puck line at +140.

The Over/Under for this game is set at 6.5 goals. The Over is the favorite paying -120, with the Under paying even money (+100). Historically, the Over is 5-1-2 in the last eight meetings between these two clubs. However, Washington’s 1.25 goals per game doesn’t inspire hope for it to generate much offense. Perhaps the value play here is on the Under.

Maple Leafs vs Capitals betting trend to know

The Under is 4-0-2 in the Maple Leafs last five road games. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Capitals.

Maple Leafs vs Capitals game info

Location:	Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Date:	Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Puck drop:	6:00 p.m. ET
TV:	Sportsnet, ESPN

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Maple Leafs vs Capitals latest injuries

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Red Wings sign Raymond to 8-year, $64.6 million contract

Published

7 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Anne Joseph

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Lucas Raymond to an eight-year, $64.6 million contract Monday, completing a deal with one of their best young players less than 72 hours before training camp begins.

Raymond will count $8.075 million against the salary cap through 2032. The 22-year-old was a restricted free agent without a contract for the upcoming NHL season and was coming off setting career highs with 31 goals, 41 assists and 72 points.

The Red Wings have another one of those in defenceman Moritz Seider, who won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2021-22.

Detroit is looking to end an eight-year playoff drought dating to the Original Six franchise’s last appearance in 2016.

Raymond, a Swede who was the fourth pick in 2020, has 174 points in 238 games since breaking into the league.

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Cousins caps winning drive with TD pass to London as Falcons rally past Eagles 22-21

Published

7 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Anne Joseph

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kirk Cousins led a flawless last-minute drive for Atlanta and connected with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give the Falcons a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

Saquon Barkley dropped a short pass that stopped the clock with 1:46 left and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of a game-sealing first down. That was plenty of time for Cousins — especially against an Eagles defense playing soft coverage with a nonexistent pass rush.

The 36-year-old veteran, playing his second game since tearing his Achilles tendon last Oct. 29 while playing for Minnesota, shook off an uneven effort and hit Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during the decisive drive.

Cousins found London on a short pass to his right for the tying score, and Younghoe Koo put Atlanta (1-1) on top with a 48-yard extra point after London was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The go-ahead drive took just 65 seconds.

Jalen Hurts had his final pass intercepted by Jessie Bates III to seal Atlanta’s win and set off a wild celebration on the sideline.

The Eagles (1-1) went ahead on Hurts’ 1-yard tush push score with 6:47 left. Barkley finished with 95 yards on 22 carries in his home debut for Philadelphia, but his drop provided the Falcons with some hope.

And then Cousins started playing like the QB Atlanta thought it was getting when it signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract.

Cousins finished 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Atlanta’s first TD was a 41-yarder from Cousins to Mooney, who finished with three catches for 88 yards.

Hurts was 23 of 30 for 183 yards, including a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. With No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown out with a hamstring injury, Smith led the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a score.

Jake Elliott kicked two field goals for the Eagles. His 28-yarder with 1:39 left made it 21-15.

Atlanta kept stalling in the red zone, getting three field goals from Koo, before Cousins fired over the middle to Mooney, who shook loose from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and left him on the turf before he somersaulted into the end zone with 1:21 left in the third quarter for a 15-10 lead. Cousins failed on the 2-point conversion pass.

Hurts had some juice in his step during a second-quarter TD drive, running with abandon for big plays much like he did in the 2022 season. He spiked the ball in a rare, raw show of emotion on a 23-yard run, earning a delay-of-game penalty. He shrugged off the 5-yard setback and scrambled for 9 yards and 15 yards to move the Eagles to Atlanta’s 19.

With comedian Shane Gillis and actor Bradley Cooper among the fans cheering on the Eagles, Hurts connected with Smith in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard TD that made it 7-3.

Under new defensive coordinator Vince Fangio, the Eagles have established an early knack for allowing long drives that end with three points instead of seven. Koo kicked field goals of 39, 22 and 34 yards, the last one enough for a 9-7 lead in the third quarter. In their opener, the Eagles held the Packers to just three field goals when they drove inside the 20.

Questionable call

Rather than take a chip-shot field goal from Elliott, the Eagles’ fourth-and-4 gamble at Atlanta’s 9-yard line in the first quarter failed when Hurts threw an incomplete pass.

Elliott kicked a 29-yarder with 4:31 left in the third quarter for a 10-9 lead.

Running wild

Bijan Robinson ran for 97 yards for the Falcons. The Eagles stuffed him late on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 39.

Barkley was quiet until the go-ahead drive, a week after he rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns against Green Bay. Eagles fans booed when the opening drive of the game ended without Barkley touching the ball. They went wild when he had consecutive 9-yard runs to open the second drive. Barkley had 40 yards rushing in the first half.

Foles honored

Former Eagles QB Nick Foles, who led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title, served as an honorary captain and led the crowd in a rendition of “Fly, Eagles, Fly.”

Injuries

The Falcons played without LB Nate Landman (calf, quad).

Up next

Atlanta hosts Super Bowl champion Kansas City on Sunday.

The Eagles play at New Orleans on Sunday.

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Fernandez and Dabrowski headline Canadian lineup for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Published

18 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.

The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.

Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.

Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.

“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”

Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.

Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.

Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.

Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.

Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.

Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

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