Los Angeles Kings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 12/8/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Where to watch: BSW, TVAS, TSN4

DraftKings: Maple Leafs -170, Kings +145

FanDuel: Maple Leafs -176, Kings +146

BetMGM: Maple Leafs -175, Kings +145

Caesars: Maple Leafs -179, Kings +150

Kings: 14-10-4

Maple Leafs: 16-5-6

Kings analysis

It’s been a rough go for the Los Angeles Kings the past couple of weeks. So much so that it required them to waive Cal Petersen, whom they signed to a long-term extension in what doesn’t seem like all that long ago. But it was just a couple of years ago they did that. But that wasn’t even the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Kings have lost six of nine and have seen the over cash in six of their last seven. Most of that has to do with their own wrongdoings by giving up an abundance of goals, but in other cases like Tuesday in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, it’s actually a sign that they can play solid defense and get good goaltending from the backup. Pheonix Copley, the new backup to Jonathan Quick, made 31 saves and held the high-scoring Senators to just two goals.

 

"I thought it was a complete game by everybody," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "We didn't have to rely on just one or two people, starting with the goaltender. I thought he played really well and gave us some confidence."

 

The Kings haven’t had issues scoring goals. Look no more than putting up 8 against the Seattle Kraken a week ago … and losing. There’s no middle ground with the Kings, who are 0-4 in their last four following a win. Considering their opponent has a player on a historic point streak and the Kings’ current defense unit is a bunch of Swiss cheese, expect more of the same this time around.

 

How long can Mitch Marner keep the streak going? That’s the big question for the red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won six of their last seven and have done so by way of … defense and goaltending? I’m not sure what aliens came to Earth and took over this team, but it’s true. The under has cashed in six of Toronto’s last eight, in which they are 6-2 in that run. The overs were a 4-3 win against Minnesota, followed by a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 3.

 

But this is about Marner, who is on a franchise record 20-game point streak after a goal and an assist last time out in a 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars. Marner is the fourth active player to have a point streak of at least 20 games and he has 27 points in that stretch. The other names? Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Paul Stastny.

 

"Those are some pretty amazing names," Marner said. "Like I've been saying this whole time, it's not a one-man effort out there. It's a lot of work from the guys around me, a lot of help from these guys around me, and it's been a lot of fun winning games as well. But a lot of kudos to these guys around me helping me out, helping me make plays. I'm just trying to go out there and buzz."

 

It's truly remarkable what Marner has done, but even more impressive is Matt Murray posting a 44-save shutout against Dallas and ending Jason Robertson’s 18-game point streak. If Toronto is getting this quality goaltending, all while they’re down three defensemen, that’s incredible.

 

The home team is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings, while the Kings have lost five of the last seven meetings in Toronto. Given that the Maple Leafs are 9-2 in their last 11 when their opponent scores five or more in the last game, and that they’re at home, this is perfect pickings for Toronto. Maple Leafs win 5-2

Kings are 16-7 following a non-conference game the last 2 seasons. 

Kings are 14-7 in road games after 2 straight overs the last 3 seasons.

Maple Leafs are 24-4 at home after playing a road game the last 2 seasons.

Maple Leafs are 98-110 at home revenging a loss when the opponent scored 4 or more goals since 1996.

Kings:

Kevin Fiala -- Anze Kopitar -- Arthur Kaliyev

Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson

Alex Iafallo -- Adrian Kempe -- Gabriel Vilardi

Jaret Anderson-Dolan -- Blake Lizotte -- Carl Grundstrom

Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi -- Matt Roy

Alexander Edler -- Sean Walker

Jonathan Quick

Maple Leafs:

Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- William Nylander

Nicholas Robertson -- John Tavares -- Mitchell Marner

Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Pierre Engvall

Zach Aston-Reese -- Pontus Holmberg -- Semyon Der-Arguchintsev

Mark Giordano -- Justin Holl

Rasmus Sandin -- Timothy Liljegren

Victor Mete -- Conor Timmins

Matt Murray

Points: Kevin Fiala -- 30

Goals: Gabe Vilardi -- 13 

Assists: Kevin Fiala -- 21

Goalie: Jonathan Quick -- 8-7-2, 3.33 GAA, .888 SV%

Points: Mitch Marner -- 32

Goals: William Nylander -- 14

Assists: Mitch Marner -- 22

Goalie: Matt Murray -- 9-6-1, 2.34 GAA, .932 SV%