For some reason, the Toronto Maple Leafs love to lose early weeknight games at Scotiabank Arena.
The Toronto Maple Leafs face-off against a terrible Anaheim Ducks team tonight and will probably find a way to lose.
I know that’s a pretty bold statement since the Leafs haven’t lost a game in regulation since November 11th, but they’re due. And how fitting would it be for them to lose to the Ducks, who are one of the worst teams in the NHL?
Although there isn’t a large sample size of early week home games at Scotiabank Arena, there are a few examples over the years (including this year) where Toronto seems to lose games they’re supposed to win at home.
For example, on Monday, October 17th, they lost 4-2 to the Arizona Coyotes, when people assumed the Leafs would win 5-0. It was one of those games where Toronto just couldn’t do anything to succeed.
The New York Islanders are much better than the Coyotes, but again on Monday, November 21st, the Leafs fell asleep and blew a third period lead, eventually losing in overtime.
This is a Huge Game for Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto is on such a heater that this Anaheim match-up feels like a definition “trap-game.”
Anaheim lost 3-0 the night before and the Leafs have a big two-game road trip against the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals before returning home against the Tampa Bay Lightning next week.
The Ducks should be an easy win for Toronto, which means it’ll probably be harder than it should.
This would be the easiest game of the season for the Leafs to take their foot off the gas. After a huge overtime win on Saturday night, where the team was probably given a big green-light to celebrate, their legs may be a little slower knowing that the Ducks are an easy opponent.
If the Leafs want to show that they’re true professionals and Stanley Cup contenders, they will dominate this game and it’ll be over by the middle of the second period. However, if they’re sleeping a bit, the Ducks have more than enough offense to capitalize and make it a closer game than it should be.
Although Dallas Eakins never coached for the Leafs, he did coach for the Toronto Marlies, which means there may be some money on the board for the Ducks to perform. Not only that, but it’ll be a home-coming for Ryan Strome, Adam Henrique, Cam Fowler and Sam Carrick, so you’ll know they’ll be motivated to play well in front of friends and family.
The odds-makers would suggest that Toronto should run away with this since the Ducks are (+380) underdogs right now, but based on that number I think there’s a ton of value.
The Ducks already beat Toronto once this year, so there’s no reason to believe they can’t do it again.
Although I don’t think I’ve ever been right with a prediction here before, let’s try it again.
Prediction: Anaheim Ducks win 3-2 in overtime.