Toronto vs. Columbus: NHL Match Prediction
Toronto will settle the score on the home court with Columbus on January 23. The hosts are currently in pretty good shape and are probably full of confidence in their abilities. The uniforms have also demonstrated good results recently, so the duel between the clubs should be a tense struggle. By the way, the previous meeting between the teams ended in favor of the visitors. Will the hosts be able to succeed this time? Should we bet on them? Find the answers to these questions in the betting tip

Command Analysis

Toronto Maple Leafs

Current form
Toronto remains one of the main leaders of the Eastern Conference and is currently in second place in the standings, with 60 points. The team may consolidate its current position in the near future, but will still be well behind Washington. We would like to emphasize that not long ago it faced an unpleasant series of three defeats and could not recover for a long time, but now it has broken the unfortunate streak with three victories in a row.
So, after unsuccessful matches against Vancouver (0:3) and Dallas (1:4), Craig Berube team dealt with New Jersey at home in a fight (4:3 OT), and then proved their superiority over Montreal on the road with a score of 7:3. He also showed himself well in the last confrontation with Tampa, in which he celebrated a success with a score of 5:3 and took advantage of all his chances. That day was the most successful for Matt Nies, who scored twice.
Such a confident victory over a powerful opponent cannot but give Toronto additional confidence in its own strength. Moreover, this season the team has shown powerful results on its home court and up to this point has already managed to win 16 victories within the regular time and often opened up the opponents' defense at least three times.
Disqualifications and injuries
Devar, Tavares, Jarnkrok and Hakanpaa will not play in the upcoming match due to injuries
Interesting trends for betting
- Toronto has a 61:42 goal-to-goal ratio in the second period.
The team is most powerful in the second twenty minutes and often keeps it behind them
- Toronto is statistically receiving 7.67 penalty minutes.
The team is usually sent off at least four times per game and is not known for its perfect discipline.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Current form
Columbus is gradually trying to improve its game after a long decline and has been showing good results lately. Even in a short period of time, the team was able to get closer to the playoff zone and even ended up in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. At the moment, the club has 51 points and the Blue Jackets have lost only four times since December 22. The New Year began for Dean Evason charges with a successful series of games on home ice. Now the guests have a streak of seven games with points scored, and it was interrupted only in the last meeting against the Rangers (0:1 SO). Before that, Zach Werenski team won at home against Philadelphia (3:2 SO) and San Jose (4:1).
True, in the last away match with the Islanders, Columbus still suffered a defeat with a score of 1:3 and for the first time in a long time remained without points. Then the second twenty minutes were the most unsuccessful for him, during which he allowed the opponent to score three unanswered goals and in the remaining 30 minutes of the match he was no longer able to offer the Islanders anything in attack. It is also worth remembering that Columbus remains one of the most conceding teams in the league and on the road they score 3.37 goals against the Jackets on average.
It is impossible not to note the actions of Kirill Marchenko, who has shown himself from the best side this season and has already scored 49 points (18+31) in the goal+pass system.
Disqualifications and injuries
Currently on the injured list are Egor Chinakhov, Boone Jenner, Erik Gudbranson, Boone Jenner, Sean Monahan
Interesting trends for betting
- On average, Columbus allows 3.57 goals per game.
The club main problem remains its weak defensive play.
- Columbus has a 23.1% power play percentage.
The team excels at playing with a one-man advantage and makes good use of the numerical advantage on the court.
Trends
Bet 1st period: total under 1.5 goals
In three of the five games involving Columbus, the first period was scoreless.
1.92Bet 2nd period: Columbus will score
Columbus has scored in the second period in its last four games against the home team.
1.57Tip and bets
Columbus has gained great form and has done a lot of work on its game both in defense and in attack. The team, of course, stumbled in the last confrontation with the Islanders, but this defeat should not confuse it. Moreover, this season Toronto often loses points in matches with such opponents, even when playing on home ice. The previous meetings between the clubs, moreover, were held in equal struggle and often ended in favor of the guests. We think that this time Dean Evason team will fight for two points. We suggest betting on his victory with a zero handicap.
Prediction - Columbus win with handicap (0) for 3.05
Bet on individual total
Columbus usually has a good attacking game in matches with such opponents and makes great use of its chances at the opponent goal. In the five previous matches, Toronto regularly conceded three times and made many mistakes in its own zone, relying entirely on its successful actions in the attack zone. By the way, in three of the previous four matches, the leaves also allowed the uniforms to score at least three times.
We bet on Columbus' individual total over 2.5 goals for 2.05
Total Bet
Matches between these teams are often spectacular and take place in a productive struggle. Toronto has recently played hockey exclusively on counter-attack courses, and Columbus is not averse to playing in a counter-attacking style in matches with such teams. Plus, six previous meetings out of seven between the leaves and uniforms took place with six or more goals scored. Based on this, we suggest betting on the total over.
We take the total over 5.5 pucks for 1.65