The Toronto Maple Leafs look to secure a crucial two points against a weaker Pittsburgh Penguins team on Sunday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up to secure an important two points against a weary Pittsburgh Penguins team this Sunday.
Pregame outlook: With the Penguins playing on consecutive nights, the Maple Leafs have a distinct edge in this matchup, especially since they are already the stronger team. Look for Auston Matthews to take a lot of shots, and Matthew Knies has a good chance to make an offensive impact.
Here are my top Maple Leafs prop picks against the Penguins for March 2.
Best Bet: Auston Matthews Over 3.5 Shots (-125)
This line offers great value for betting on Matthews, who is known for leading Toronto in shot attempts.
- The Leafs’ captain averages 3.93 shots per game and has one of the most lethal shots in the NHL.
- He’s been in a shooting frenzy lately, accumulating 50 shots in his last 12 games (4.17 per game).
- Pittsburgh’s defense has been struggling, allowing 30.2 shots per game (5th-most in the NHL), and they’ll be fatigued after a tough loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Matthews has already excelled against the Penguins this season, with four and eight shots in their earlier encounters. Bet on him to surpass this prop once more.
Key stat: Matthews has recorded four or more shots in eight of his last 12 games.
Quick Pick: Matthew Knies to Record 1+ Point (-118)
This prop is a solid bet considering Knies’ recent form.
- He has tallied at least one point in seven of his last 11 games, including two consecutive games.
- Knies is averaging 18:03 of ice time, which puts him in a great position to contribute offensively.
With Toronto up against a tired Penguins team, Knies has an excellent chance to keep his streak going.
Knies’ position in Toronto’s lineup is very attractive. He plays on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and he also gets time on the team’s top power-play unit.
Regularly skating with the Leafs’ top offensive talents greatly enhances Knies’ potential for production.
Moreover, he faces a Pittsburgh team that has struggled defensively all season. The Penguins are giving up the second-most goals per game (3.58) and have the league’s second-worst save percentage (.882).
This advantageous matchup makes Knies a solid choice to score a point.