We've got just one game on the NHL betting slate tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Utah Hockey Club at Scotiabank Arena.
The NHL odds favor Toronto on home ice (-190) as they look for a fourth straight win tonight. However, it's the power play prop market I'm eyeing with Utah's penalty kill floundering of late.
The Buds are rolling right, winning three straight and six of their last seven games. A big reason for the early-season surge was the power play turnaround.
Through the first 13 games, the Leafs had a tough time getting going on the man-advantage with a sub-10% success rate. They've since caught fire and are operating at a 34% clip in their last seven games.
The man leading the charge has been Mitch Marner. He has seven powerplay points over the last seven games, factoring into 77% of the teams' total power-play goals over that stretch. I think he factors in again here tonight against a team struggling while shorthanded.
It's a juicy matchup for the Leafs' power play, and it should have the boys on PP1 salivating. Utah has allowed at least one goal on the man advantage in each of its last six games, operating at just 70%.
On the season, the Hockey Club's PK is just 76%, which ranks 23rd in the NHL, and they're giving up the seventh-most scoring chances while killing off penalties.
Considering the Leafs are fourth in the NHL in generating scoring chances on the power play, it should bode well for Toronto -- especially Marner -- who's registered a point on 11 of the teams' 13 converted opportunities this season. So if the Leafs are to score on the PP tonight, there's a strong likelihood Marner is involved.
For the first leg of our SGP, we'll stick with Marner and take him to record 2+ shots on goal. Marner is averaging 2.55 shots on goal this season and has 12 multi-shot games through 20 outings. Utah is giving up 32.6 shots per game over their last five.
We'll stick with the shots theme for our second leg of the SGP and take Bobby McMann to record 2+ shots. He's hit this number in 10 of his last 11 games and is averaging five shots per game since being elevated to the top line four games ago.
We'll finish off the parlay by taking the Maple Leafs on the moneyline.
Toronto has the edge in offense, defense, goaltending, and special teams. Plus, they've been resting and waiting at home since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Utah was in Pittsburgh last night and is playing their third game in four nights with cross-border travel.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
The Maple Leafs are 9-3 on the moneyline on home ice this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Utah.