The Toronto Maple Leafs will enter their Saturday contest versus the surging Vancouver Canucks shorthanded as COVID has taken away some top skaters. John Tavares, Alex Kerfoot, Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza will all be out against a Vancouver team that is on a six-game winning streak.
Can the Leafs build off Tuesday’s win despite being shorthanded and with so much time off? Can Bruce Boudreau continue to rack up wins continue to get great goaltending? Find out in our free picks, predictions and NHL odds for Maple Leafs vs. Canucks.
(Editor's Note: As per Saturday afternoon's announcement, this game has been postponed due to health and safety protocol.)
Maple Leafs vs Canucks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Toronto opened at -140 on the moneyline and has since moved to -130. The total sits at 6 leaning heavily to the Under.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Maple Leafs vs Canucks predictions
Predictions made on 12/18/2021 at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Maple Leafs vs Canucks game info
• Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
• Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021
• Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: CBC, Sportsnet
Maple Leafs vs Canucks betting preview
Injuries
Maple Leafs: Wayne Simmonds F (Out), John Tavares F (Out), Jason Spezza F (Out), Alex Kerfoot F (Out), Mitch Marner F (Out), Rasmus Sandin D (Out), Nick Ritchie F (Out).
Canucks: Tyler Motte F (Out), Brad Hunt D (Out), Tucker Poolman D (Out), Luke Schenn D (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Maple Leafs vs Canucks head-to-head record (since 2021 season)
Maple Leafs: 5-4 SU, 32 goals for.
Canucks: 4-5 SU, 23 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Canucks are 5-1 SU in their last six vs. Eastern Conference. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Canucks.
Maple Leafs vs Canucks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Moneyline analysis
It’s been four days since the Leafs last played — a convincing 5-1 win over the Oilers — but a lot has changed since then. The Leafs, like most other teams in the league, have been hit with COVID and will be without some important pieces Saturday against a Vancouver team that has won six in a row and eight of its last nine.
Toronto’s top line will be intact but its second line will be missing two players (John Tavares and Alex Kerfoot) while the fourth line will be without Wayne Simmonds. Not included is the absence of Mitch Marner. Can the Leafs get it done Saturday night on the West Coast with a weak forward group?
Defensively, the team will be fine and goalie Jack Campbell bounced back in a big way in Edmonton on Tuesday. If the Leafs can get back to their defensive ways and Campbell can play like a Top-10 goalie, Auston Matthews and the power play can support this offense but the lack of secondary scoring is a real concern.
Matthews has been on a heater for three weeks and has 13 goals over his last 10 games including four on the power play that has 11 goals in Toronto’s last six games. The Canucks have only taken three penalties over the last three games which is a trend that will be tough to continue versus the Leafs who have had 21 power-play opportunities in their last six games.
Vancouver has become the talk of the town as new head coach Bruce Boudreau is a perfect 6-0 SU since getting hired. The Canucks have outscored their opponents 21-10 over that stretch and while they will be missing some players due to COVID, the loss isn’t nearly as significant as Toronto’s as Vancouver’s top two lines and defense pairings will be the same as in its 5-2 win over San Jose on Thursday.
The Leafs won’t have the benefit of facing a backup goalie as they've had in three of their last four wins. Thatcher Demko has been a difference-maker over the last 10 days as he’s 5-0 SU with a 1.36 GAA and a .956 SV%. This will be the best goalie Toronto has seen in six games.
Toronto also has to head to Seattle for a game tomorrow which will conclude their West Coast swing and get the Leafs home for the holidays. This has been a resilient team to date but the pieces that are missing are significant and the Canucks are playing with a ton of confidence under new leadership that’s being supported by incredible goaltending. The Market is starting to move to the Canucks and we’re following suit. Things could change between now and puck drop so always check before making your wager and if the line moves significantly, there is likely a reason.
We’re getting a little greedy and taking the Canucks in regulation as Toronto is a very dangerous overtime team and we don’t like Vancouver’s chances if it goes past 60 minutes. The home team won every one of the nine meetings a season ago.
Prediction: Canucks 3-way ML (+180)
Over/Under analysis
The Leafs hit their first Under in seven games with a 5-1 win over the Oilers on Tuesday. The 6.5 total was a little lofty but Toronto showed why they were one of the best Under teams in hockey over the first two months of the season. Now they'll be handicapped offensively with Marner, Kerfoot, Tavares, Simmonds, Ritchie and Spezza all out of the lineup. That’s six of their 12 starting forwards from opening night and three of the top six forwards. The Leafs have been thriving on the powerplay of late but the Canucks take penalties at one of the lowest rates in hockey. Expecting this goal total to hit seven or more is a lot to ask, especially with the goaltending.
Campbell had allowed three or more goals in four straight starts before stymying the Oilers on Tuesday. His team collapsed defensively on him at times but he stood tall and finished with an incredible 2.47 goals saved above expected. Campbell was one of the best goalies in the league in October and November and some rest is likely doing the overworked goalie some good.
On the other end of the ice is also a goalie showing flashes of brilliance. Demko may own a 2.62 GAA but his play of late has revitalized his team. He’s 7-1 SU in his last eight starts and has conceded just 14 goals. He has wins versus the Hurricanes, Jets and Bruins in his last four starts so the wins haven’t been entirely cheap.
The real factor in this total will likely come down to special teams. The Leafs’ power play is hitting at nearly 50% this month but Vancouver has just played disciplined hockey of late having taken just three minor penalties in their last three games. In all, the Canucks have seen just three special team goals in their last four games. Both of Toronto's power-play units will be without important skaters.
With missing offensive pieces and two goalies that could very well get Vezina nods by season’s end, we are taking this total of 6 and hitting the Under now as 5.5s are starting to pop up.
Prediction: Under 6 (-120)
Best bet
It hasn't been common to fade the Leafs of late but the missing pieces are quite substantial and there is a possibility that even more Toronto players test positive today as they have been traveling together the whole week. We’ve seen it happen to other teams this week.
Defensively, they haven’t played great of late and mixing up new lines is likely not a recipe for success against a Vancouver team that has a new lease on life and confidence that it didn't have earlier. Vancouver is averaging over three goals per game and 2.00 goals against over their last eight games and will be the first good defensive/goaltending team Toronto has seen in a while.
Pick: Canucks 3-way ML (+180)
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