Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - March 20

A pair of Eastern Conference teams, at opposite ends of the standings, face one another on Friday, March 20 when the first-place Carolina Hurricanes (43-19-6) visit the 15th-place Toronto Maple Leafs (29-28-12). The Maple Leafs are heavy underdogs despite being the hosts, at +180, and the Hurricanes are -218.

Carolina won 6-5 at home its last time out on March 18 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Hurricanes were led by Nikolaj Ehlers (three assists) and Jackson Blake (one goal and two assists).

Toronto played at home in its last game on March 17, and fell 3-1 against the New York Islanders. The Maple Leafs were led in that outing by Benoit-Olivier Groulx (one assist) and Steven Lorentz (one goal).

To prepare for this matchup, here is who we expect to emerge victorious in Friday's hockey action.

Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs Predictions & Pick

For predictions on the upcoming game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, sourced from Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Maple Leafs 4 - Hurricanes 3
• Pick OU: Over 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 6.96 goals)
  

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Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs Moneylines

Take a look below at the most recent moneylines for the Hurricanes-Maple Leafs matchup.

• Favorite: Hurricanes (-218)
• Underdog: Maple Leafs (+180)

Hurricanes Betting Insights

• The Hurricanes have been victorious in 40 of their 61 games when they were favored on the moneyline this season (65.6%).
• Carolina is 11-3 (victorious in 78.6% of its games) when playing with moneyline odds of -218 or shorter.
• Based on this game's moneyline, the Hurricanes have an implied probability of 68.6% to win.
• Carolina and its opponent have combined to score more than 6.5 goals in 36 of 68 games this season.

Maple Leafs Betting Insights

• The Maple Leafs have been an underdog in 35 games this season, and won 12 (34.3%).
• Toronto has a record of 2-4 when it's been set as an underdog of +180 or more by oddsmakers this season.
• Bookmakers have implied, given the moneyline set for this matchup, that the Maple Leafs have a 35.7% chance to win.
• Toronto has played 38 games this season with over 6.5 goals.

Hurricanes Key Stats

• Carolina has scored the fifth-most goals in the league (236 total, 3.5 per game).
• The Hurricanes have conceded 199 total goals (2.9 per game), ranking ninth in league play for the fewest goals against.
• It has the league's fifth-best goal differential at +37.
• The 45 power-play goals the Hurricanes have put up this season (to rank 11th in the NHL) have come on 203 power-play chances.
• Carolina has the league's 12th-ranked power-play conversion rate (22.17%).
• The Hurricanes have scored eight shorthanded goals this season.
• Carolina kills 79.38% of opponent power plays, the 16th-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Carolina has the 16th-ranked faceoff win rate in the NHL, at 50.3%.
• The Hurricanes shoot 10.8% as a team (19th in the league).

Maple Leafs Key Stats

• Toronto has 215 goals this season (3.1 per game), 16th in the league.
• The Maple Leafs' total of 237 goals conceded (3.4 per game) is 30th in the NHL.
• Its -22 goal differential ranks 23rd in the league.
• With 32 power-play goals (on 165 chances), the Maple Leafs are 28th in the NHL.
• Toronto has the league's 20th-ranked power-play percentage (19.39%).
• This season, the Maple Leafs have four shorthanded goals (22nd in NHL).
• Toronto's has the fifth-best penalty-kill percentage (82.97%).
• At 55.7%, Toronto has the league's best faceoff win percentage.
• The 11.5% shooting percentage of the Maple Leafs is ninth in the league.