Wild vs Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs will encounter their first matchup against a playoff opponent since their loss to Boston back on February 1st when they host the Minnesota ...

It is just a credit to his hockey sense and his ability to make adjustments like that. You have to be so sharp with him and be aware of where he is at all times. The IQ of him to be able to do that is incredible. As I talked about before the trade, I wanted to see Engvall, Kampf, and Jarnkrok. At the time of the trade, he was playing in the top six and had done a nice job there. You think you have him or you think you have him squeezed out, and he makes a little touch and burns you. It is going to be one about competing at both nets. It is going to force me to reshuffle things. Dating back to the 6-2 loss to Ottawa in late January, Samsonov is 4-3-0 with a .898 save percentage. Special teams and those kinds of things are the difference in games against Minnesota. He was in a good spot and really starting to come, and then the trade impacts him. Marc-Andre Fleury picked up the shutout in net, which means Filip Gustavsson — who has been the better goalie statistically with a 15-8 record and a .928 save percentage — will take the start tonight.

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Minnesota Wild to Scotiabank Arena for their final home contest before a five-game road trip.

Minnesota has lost three consecutive games on zero days of rest by a combined margin of 13-3. They’re also tied for surrendering the sixth-fewest high-danger chances per 60 (10.33) during the same stretch. They’ve held opponents to two goals or fewer in five of their last seven outings. Minnesota’s goaltending strength is another factor working in this wager’s favour. [ Nylander over 3.5 shots (+105) ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): Few players in the NHL are putting more pucks on net than Nylander recently. Expect another low-scoring affair on Friday. [ Maple Leafs 60-minute moneyline (-124) ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): Toronto owns the second-best home record (22-6-4) in the NHL and is entering Friday’s game with the benefit of two days of rest. Toronto’s an excellent home squad and should be able to win at Scotiabank with players like William Nylander continuing their run of strong recent form. The Wild rank 14th in expected goals against per 60 (2.81) and are conceding the ninth-fewest scoring chances (26.94) across the last seven days. [ Best Bet ](https://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUyODU0NyZsPTEzNTI4NTQzJnA9MTQ5OTc%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2022_NorthStarBets__&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): Under 6.5 goals (-125) The Maple Leafs are allowing the 12th-fewest expected goals per 60 (2.71) over the last week, [ NHL odds ](https://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink) as of 9:55 a.m.

Grant White breaks down Friday's NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs, including odds and a pick.

Based on implied probability, the Leafs have a 66.7% chance of winning tonight’s nonconference matchup. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Toronto is the right side to be on. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. In contrast to what we’ve seen from the Maple Leafs, this one could get ugly. Minnesota lacks the defensive structure to limit the Leafs’ attack and falls even further behind in production metrics. The Leafs are flourishing offensively. Overall, the Leafs are a top-seven team in goals-for and have metrics supporting sustained production. As expected, that has shifted the expected goals-for rating in the Leafs’ favor. More impressively, it’s dictating pace on both ends of the ice and handcuffing opponents. The Wild have been outplayed in two of those four contests, posting a cumulative 44.1% expected goals-for percentage. Minnesota goalies have combined for above-average save percentages in five of their previous seven games, with a 95.5% benchmark across that span.

Our featured game of this batch of NHL Predictions is the surging Minnesota Wild versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[Jake Allen](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/a/allenja01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) is the confirmed starter in goal for the [Montreal Canadiens](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/canadiens/), who are [dealing with a lot of injuries](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2023/02/23/montreal-canadians-announce-multiple-injury-updates-waiver-pickup/). [Carter Hart](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/hartca01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) is the projected starter in between the pipes for the [ Philadelphia Flyers](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/flyers/). [Ottawa Senators](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/senators/) versus the [Carolina Hurricanes](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/hurricanes/). [Kevin Mandolese](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/m/mandoke01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) is the projected starter, but that could change with Ottawa playing back-to-back games. [Ryan O’Reilly](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/o/oreilry01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) is [already paying dividends](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2023/02/17/st-louis-blues-trade-ryan-oreilly/) as he got a hat trick against Buffalo the last game out. [Filip Gustavsson](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/g/gustafi01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) in goal. [Kirill Kaprizov](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kapriki01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) leads the team in goals with 33 this season. [Carter Verhaeghe](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/v/verhaca01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) hit the 30-goal mark and is the team’s leading scorer. [Ilya Samsonov](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/s/samsoil01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) in net as it has wins in three of last five games. [Sergei Bobrovsky](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bobrose01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) is the likely starter, but [always check online](https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/starting-goalies/2023-02-24) before deciding your fantasy lineup. [ Buffalo Sabres](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/sabres/) face the [Florida Panthers.](https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/category/panthers/) Buffalo is fourth in goals scored and Florida is even better at third. [Tage Thompson](https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/t/thompta01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&utm_campaign=2023-02-23_hr) is four goals away from 40 with 36 so far this season.