Avalanche vs Maple Leafs

A preview of the nationally televised Wednesday night game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[Denis Malgin](https://coloradohockeynow.com/2023/03/14/who-steps-up-in-the-absence-of-artturi-lehkonen/) appears set to get the first crack at filling in for Lehkonen, and he’s earned it. [Colorado Avalanche1 day ago ](https://coloradohockeynow.com/2023/03/14/who-steps-up-in-the-absence-of-artturi-lehkonen/) [Artturi Lehkonen](https://coloradohockeynow.com/2023/03/13/news-artturi-lehkonen-leaves-with-broken-finger-surgery-required/) breaking his finger on Monday, the Avalanche will have to adjust their lines and hope somebody steps up. [Colorado Avalanche6 hours ago ](https://coloradohockeynow.com/2023/03/15/film-room-all-the-small-things-artturi-lehkonen-does/) With 88 points, they sit second place in the Atlantic Division, and appear destined for another first round matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s had a strong season with the Colorado Eagles, picking up 33 points in 33 games.

Lehkonen returned to Denver for surgery, and we await further updates on his return timeline. The last time Colorado faced Toronto and got dominated, they were ...

Colorado has played the first of a back-to-back tonight, so I’d expect Alexandar Georgiev to get the nod against the Leafs and Joonas Johansson to get the net against the Senators. The Leafs got Ilya Samsonov via free agency ahead of the 2022-23 season and employed Matt Murray, who has given up four goals in five straight starts. [Colorado Avalanche](https://www.milehighhockey.com/) and the eastern powerhouse [Toronto Maple Leafs](https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/) is finally upon us. [Colorado Avalanche](https://www.milehighhockey.com/) [@Jakeweindling]) thoughts ahead of tonight’s matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If the Avalanche want a real shot at doing so, they must play defense first and stay out of the sin bin.

Preview, analysis, quotes and TV info for the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Colorado Avalanche game on 3/15/23 at Scotiabank Arena.

When we need a guy if we are missing a guy, he has been the guy to come up and try to help us in the scoring areas to create some offense. He is a veteran guy who has played in the league. not that they are not dangerous off of the rush, but I find their o-zone play and their competitiveness below the tops of the circles and around the net front has given us troubles in the past. We have seen some guys get a little bit of a spark offensively because they are excited to go out with those top guys and prove they can help produce in those situations. We don’t chase the matchup on the road, but we played 11 and 7 as well. It has been a few games now that he has been really skating well. He has been really skating well and on the puck, jumping into holes… I don’t know if that is as much of a rhythm thing as it is moving well, being confident, and getting into spaces. It is that stretch of the schedule where we have to be really good. We played Edmonton twice, but New Jersey, Buffalo, and Colorado are the top four teams in the NHL at scoring on the rush. In fact, this is the In lineup news, Sheldon Keefe will continue to forge ahead with 11/7, only with Calle Jarnkrok starting the game on Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner’s line.

The Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs are scoring plenty of goals, making this game a fun one for player props.

[ Rantanen to score 2+ points (+230) ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): The Avalanche have dealt with a number of injuries this season but Rantanen has maintained steady production throughout. Rantanen, like MacKinnon, has scored a pair of points in each of his last two outings and has five multi-point efforts in his last 12 contests. [ MacKinnon to score 2+ points (+130) ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): In addition to selecting him to go over his shot prop, we’re also taking MacKinnon to notch two-plus points. [ 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): MacKinnon over 4.5 shots (-114) The Maple Leafs aren’t a plus-matchup, as they’re allowing the sixth-fewest shots per game (28.9) this year, but MacKinnon’s looking like a matchup-proof player at this point. [ NHL odds ](http://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2NCZsPTEzNTM0Nzg5JnA9MTcxMjg%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink) as of 10:12 a.m.

Two of the NHL's best square off on Wednesday. See why we like the underdog when the Avalanche and Maple Leafs play tonight.

[how to bet on the NHL](https://nypost.com/article/how-to-bet-on-hockey/) The market seems a bit down on Colorado after the Lehkonen injury, but this is nothing new to the Avs this season and they should be able to take advantage of a Toronto defense that is struggling right now. [latest Stanley Cup Odds](https://nypost.com/article/stanley-cup-odds/) [best NHL betting sites](https://nypost.com/article/best-nhl-betting-sites/) [Stanley Cup](https://nypost.com/article/best-nhl-betting-sites/) champions were the consensus favorite to lift the cup again in 2022-23, but currently sit in third place in the Central Division and fifth in the Western Conference. [Colorado](https://nypost.com/article/best-new-jersey-sports-betting-sites/)‘s record.

Analyzing Wednesday's Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Plus, try out the [USA TODAY Parlay Calculator](https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/parlay-calculator?utm_source=sportsbookwire&utm_medium=text-link) and please [gamble responsibly](https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/bet-and-wager-101-responsible-gaming-and-gambling/). [Pick’em Challenge](https://dailyticket.usatoday.com/) and win! [all season on ESPN+](https://go.web.plus.espn.com/c/1205322/535104/9070?subId1=NHL&subId2=SBW), with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Maple Leafs -1.5 (+170) Bet the moneyline and/or total instead. [Tipico Sportsbook’s](https://media.tipico.com/C.ashx?btag=a_94b_456c_colorado-avalanche-at-toronto-maple-leafs-odds-picks-and-predictions&affid=47&siteid=94&adid=456&c=colorado-avalanche-at-toronto-maple-leafs-odds-picks-and-predictions-pos1) lines around the Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs -140 (bet $140 to win $100) the Maple Leafs in the Dec. The Colorado Avalanche (37-22-6) and Toronto Maple Leafs (40-18-8) meet Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena. U: -105) Toronto won as a -113 road favorite 6-2 as the Over (5.5) cashed Dec. ET (TNT).

Le Colorado se trouve à quatre points du Minnesota (38-21-8, 84 points), qui occupe la deuxième place. Le Wild se rendra à St. Louis pour tenter d'étendre sa ...

Nathan MacKinnon scores the lone goal in the shootout period as the Avalanche beat the Maple Leafs 2-1. ByAP.

[Ilya Samsonov](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3900505/ilya-samsonov) stopped 28 shots. [Mikko Rantanen](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3899938/mikko-rantanen) scored in regulation for Colorado (38-22-6). [Bowen Byram](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4565225/bowen-byram) said of MacKinnon, who entered with 15 goals in his last 15 games. [William Nylander](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3114736/william-nylander) and [Auston Matthews](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4024123/auston-matthews) had a good chance on Georgiev. But certainly to have short-term goals like that and chase down the teams that are in front of us is part of it. [Valeri Nichushkin](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3042003/valeri-nichushkin) on a short-handed breakaway in the second before [Cale Makar](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4233563/cale-makar) nearly went end-to-end on a rush, but the puck trickled wide. When he’s going, I feel like everyone else is sharper.” [Alexandar Georgiev](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/4239677/alexandar-georgiev) made 17 saves for injury-ravaged Colorado (38-22-6), which has found its game since the All-Star break and climbed within five points of the Central Division-leading [Dallas Stars](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/dal/dallas-stars) with two games in hand. [Jake McCabe](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3020803/jake-mccabe) for his 44th of the season. [Morgan Rielly](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/2976833/morgan-rielly) scored for Toronto (40-18-9). “Some nights we’re as good as we want to be. “That dedication to the way we have to play to have success is the key to it,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said. [Nathan MacKinnon](http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3041969/nathan-mackinnon) was the only scorer in the shootout as the [Colorado Avalanche](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/col/colorado-avalanche) defeated the [Toronto Maple Leafs](http://www.espn.com/nhl/team/_/name/tor/toronto-maple-leafs) 2-1 on Wednesday night.

With so many elite offensive players on display should we expect another shootout between the Avalanche and Maple Leafs? AK and Carlo both pick out a player ...

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