USA -> NHL

Tonight we have one of the more popular leagues among tipsters, the NHL, which offers us quite a number of games. We will take a look at Toronto Maple Leafs and LA Kings. They are two very different teams when it comes to team maturity. The home side has a rebuild and rejuvenated squad built around the youngsters such as Matthews, Nylander, Reilly or Zaitsev. The team’s goaltenders from last season Reimer and Bernier have departed. Their replacements are Andersen and Enroth. The visitors have two Stanley Cups from recent years, more specifically 2012 and 2014. The core of the team has stayed and it has probably peaked out and will be up for some rebuilding soon. To name a few we have Dustin Brown, Devin Setuguchi and Matt Greene.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Home team is really blossoming around the number one draft pick Austin Matthews and currently sits in 9th place with 13 points and a score of 37:41. All this in just twelve games. There is nothing to be criticized about the offense, because it is productive and goals are coming in. However, the defense is letting in just a few goals too many. Points ranking of the Toronto Maple Leafs are topped by the young Swede Nylander, who is holding an average of one point per game (4+8). Top scorers position is held by the pair Matthews and Kadri, who each scored six goals.

ON the injury list we have:

forward Matt Hunwick (0+1) – 3rd line, more defensive minded

Los Angeles Kings

Kings are in 7th place of the Western Conference with 12 points and a score of 28:32. The visitors are not in peak form yet. This is much due to the absence of Jonathana Quick. American goaltender was named the MVP of the 2012 playoffs, when the Kings won the first Stanley Cup in this decade. The team also has the best defensemn in the NHL in Drew Doughty. Despite not having scored the most goals or most assists, his game play and the way he reads opponents is unrivaled. Point scoring of the Kings his headed by Alec Martinéz with nine points (2+7). The top scorer is Tanner Pearson with four goals so far. Quality goaltending is provided by the Slovak goalie Peter Budaj, who was called up from the farm team after both first team goaltenders were injured .

Injury list includes:

forward Andy Andreoff (0+0) – 3rd line with defensive responsibilities

forward Marian Gáborík (0+0)  – 2nd line, power plays, MVP in 2014 playoffs

defensemab Brayden McNabb (2+0) – 1st defense pairing

goaltender Jonathan Quick – clear number one, key player

To sum it up the youth of Toronto Maple Leafs play a very attractive and fast hockey and will be trying to bring down the defensive wall of the Kings, who have been able to gain 2 points from 5 away matches for OT win in Dallas. Otherwise all points stayed home. The Maple Leafs have lost at home so far only to Tampa, otherwise all other points stayed at the Air Canada Centre. If we add key absences to this cocktail, than what we get is a sensible choice of double chance on home team, i.e. non loss in 60 minutes. For the riskier of you, well there is always the bet on home team to win at about 2.57.

Jan E – verified

Tip: 1X

Odds: 1.60