Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/15/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to watch: ATTSN-PT, TSN4, TVAS

DraftKings: Maple Leafs -115, Penguins -105

FanDuel: EVEN

BetMGM: Maple Leafs -115, Penguins -105

Caesars: Maple Leafs -115, Penguins -105

Maple Leafs: 8-5-3

Penguins: 6-6-3

Maple Leafs: won 3-2 vs. Canucks on Saturday

Penguins: lost 5-4 (OT) at Canadiens

This was not on my bingo card. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins, both bad out of the gates, looking for a win to keep things hopeful for the future. But as the teams head into their Tuesday matchup in Pittsburgh, I have a tough time trying to figure out which team is going to have a better go at it.

 

And right now, I have no idea because both teams are finding different ways to lose. And it was not that long ago – Friday, as a matter of fact – when the Penguins went into Toronto and won 4-2. Now they return the favor with the Leafs coming off a 3-2 win at home against the Vancouver Canucks that there is at least some optimism to be had.

 

It almost went down the drain when the Canucks took a 2-0 lead before Toronto rallied. Auston Matthews scored, and Jordie Benn scored the go-ahead goal in his Toronto debut. Erik Kallgren, who started both games in the back-to-back because Toronto made it seem like he was prime Marc-Andre Fleury with Vegas, made 28 saves in the win.

 

"Better feeling today," Kallgren said. "Obviously a big win. … That was a tough loss yesterday, so to get the chance to bounce back was nice. I felt fresh, so no problem there."

 

I still don’t trust the Leafs as far as I can throw them, but that was a decent win on Saturday. It’d be better if it wasn’t against a Vancouver team that has literally been egregious in blowing leads and never playing consistent hockey. A team of blind hockey players could probably beat Vancouver right now, but I digress.

 

The Penguins looked to be on the right track after the wins against Toronto and Washington last week, but found a way to lose to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, 5-4 in overtime. Pittsburgh took the lead on Brock McGinn’s sixth goal, only for Sean Monahan to tie it 40 seconds later. Mike Hoffman scored 1:03 into the extra frame for the victory.

 

The one problem for Pittsburgh right now is the goaltending has looked like a weakness again. Tristan Jarry made 37 saves, but he’s been looking pitiful for most of the year. Sure, the defense isn’t any better in front of him, but there’s only so much that can be done at the moment to right that wrong.

 

"Anytime you get five out of six points out of three games on the road, I think most coaches would probably take that," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "But when it's there for you to get six, it's a little bit disappointing. We knew it was going to be a tough game for us coming into it. Just logistically, it's one of those games where you know it's going to be a tough one, and give Montreal credit, they played really well."

 

Montreal played well, but the Penguins are capable of that same level. They can’t be giving away points like that when they’re trying to find consistency in their game. So far, it’s not there, but this is why they play 82 games and what not.

 

 

The Penguins are feeling good, got some rest after a long road trip, and are catching a reeling Toronto team on its heels. If this was the time to take advantage of an unproven goaltender while figuring out your team, it would be now for Pittsburgh. Penguins win 4-3

Maple Leafs are 21-4 when revenging a home loss against an opponent the last 3 years.

Penguins are 0-8 when playing a 3rd game in 5 days this season.

Penguins are 2-7 after a road game this season.

Maple Leafs are 249-290 after a home win since 1996.

Maple Leafs:

Alexander Kerfoot -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner

Nicholas Robertson -- John Tavares -- William Nylander

Michael Bunting -- Pierre Engvall -- Calle Jarnkrok

Zach Aston-Reese -- David Kampf -- Denis Malgin

Morgan Rielly -- Timothy Liljegren

TJ Brodie -- Justin Holl

Mark Giordano -- Rasmus Sandin

Erik Kallgren

Penguins:

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust

Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Rickard Rakell

Brock McGinn -- Jeff Carter -- Danton Heinen

Filip Hallander -- Ryan Poehling -- Josh Archibald

Marcus Pettersson -- Kris Letang

Brian Dumoulin -- Jeff Petry

Chad Ruhwedel -- Jan Rutta

Tristan Jarry

Points: Mitch Marner -- 18

Goals: John Tavares -- 8

Assists: Mitch Marner -- 15

Goalie: Ilya Samsonov -- 6-2-0, 2.23 GAA, .921 SV%

Points: Evgeni Malkin -- 16

Goals: Jake Guentzel -- 8

Assists: Sidney Crosby -- 10

Goalie: Casey DeSmith -- 2-3-1, 2.67 GAA, .916 SV%