Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Colorado Avalanche by 2Alright, let's take a close look at this. We've got the Toronto Maple Leafs rolling up the ramp toward the Colorado Avalanche. They're probably hoping this isn't going to be the downhill ride it was last time.
Now, if we take a look in the crease, we've got two hard-working goalkeepers on either side. Toronto's got Anthony Stolarz, who's been flexing some ice-cold nerves with a save percentage of 96.0% this season. That's quite a wall, wouldn't you say? Joseph Woll, on the other hand, has been a bit lacklustre with a save percentage of 90.5% this season. The Avalanche brought Mackenzie Blackwood, boasting a save percentage of 92.4% this season, which is pretty solid. Scott Wedgewood, hitting at 90.3%, might be a touch shaky if he's pressed into duty.
When it comes to making plays, our Maple Leafs have a handful: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares have been productive, to say the least. And we can't forget Mitch Marner, amassing a whopping 58 assists this season and making a critical impact on the ice. Over on the other side, we've got Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar shouldering much of the goal-scoring load for the Avalanche, while Artturi Lehkonen, with his 26 season goals, clearly knows how to blast the puck past surprised goalies, plus he’s managing a brilliant 28 plus-minus.
In terms of historical faceoffs, Toronto and Colorado have had fairly close bouts, with the Maple Leafs taking away a recent victory. But the Avalanche has had that recent taste of winning on home turf. Not that it's going to dull anyone's skates.
Let's peep at the regular season records. It's a white-knuckle race, with the Leafs at 38-3-21 and the Avalanche close behind at 37-2-24.
Looking at recent results, the Maple Leafs might be feeling the sting of those last two losses, which could push them harder tonight. On the other end, the Avalanche seems to be on a roll, crushing their last four opponents.
Let's cut to the chase here. This game might get chippy, with both teams showing teeth, but with some flurries of brilliance (and a little luck), here's my prediction.
Albert’s Prediction: Colorado Avalanche by 2