Toronto vs Dallas Pick
NHL Betting action sees the Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the Dallas Stars on Tuesday December 23rd at American Airlines Center. Cappers Picks provides free NHL handicapping tips all season long.
The pre-Christmas Tuesday night in D-FW sees two clubs that score a bunch of goals, but are desperate for a team concept.
NHL Predictions
Toronto vs Dallas
Date/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 7 pm EST
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas TX
Broadcast: RSN
Toronto +115, Dallas -145
Over/Under: 6
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The Stars needed a shootout to win their last game against the lowly Oilers, while the Leafs are mired in a three-game losing skid.
The visiting Maple Leafs score a ton, but unless their goaltending is flawless, they are liable to break down and wilt.
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Sure, there are games where Toronto crushes the competition, but the goal-scoring and the netminding won’t be perfect every night; when it’s less than optimal, a team needs to give itself a chance with team defense.
That just doesn’t exist for the Blue & White. Just like the past several seasons, the Leafs yield bunches of shots to the opposition. Goalies can’t handle being peppered night after night.
It’s been a similar narrative for Dallas. The Stars roster reads like a who’s who of talent: Tyler Seguin’s 42 points trails only Philly’s Jakub Voracek for the league lead (his 25 goals lead the league by five); Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza and blueliner Trevor Daley are all gifted playmakers.
But, the goaltending has been awful for the Stars.
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Anders Lindback has been a downright miserable backup, while starter Kari Lehtonen has been below-average (2.99 GAA, .904 save percentage). When Dallas goalies get hung out to dry by the Stars’ special-teams units, it leads to losses.
Dallas’s 14-13-5 record gives them 33 points, which puts it sixth in the lethal Central division.
The Leafs, meanwhile, have 41 points thanks to an earlier hot streak, but they are headed south again in what is a familiar trend.
Perhaps there is hope in the hockey-mad Toronto market that the Leafs can get back on track with two road games against inferior opponents (Dallas and at Florida after Christmas).
It is frustrating how when Toronto’s top line is clicking and either Jonathan Bernier or James Reimer is on their game between the pipes, they can look like one of the league’s best.
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The next game, they’ll get blown out in embarrassing fashion. It is this lack of consistency that should have – long ago – cost head coach Randy Carlyle his job.
4* FREE NHL Play: Toronto 5, Dallas 3
This is a game where a mountain of goals could be scored, while coaches that preach team defense get sick to their stomachs.
Take the OVER
Expect the Leafs to win if only because it’s more likely Bernier will have a stronger game than Lehtonen or Lindback.
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