Vancouver Canucks vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/12/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Saturday, Nov 12, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Where to watch: CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Maple Leafs -175, Canucks +150
FanDuel: Maple Leafs -170, Canucks +140
BetMGM: Maple Leafs -182, Canucks +150
Caesars: Maple Leafs -190, Canucks +158

Season record
Canucks: 4-7-3 (9 points)
Maple Leafs: 7-5-3 (17 points)

What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Vegas Writer off to a 14-11-0 start over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 10-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!

Canucks - Maple Leafs preview, prediction and analysis


Recent results
Canucks: lost 5-2 at Canadiens on Wednesday
Maple Leafs: lost 2 straight, lost 4-2 vs. Penguins on Friday

Okay, I know this one is likely going to get me laughed at and I promise it has nothing to do with being an absolute hater of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But if there was a legit chance for the Vancouver Canucks to get a rare win and knock off Toronto and send Leafs fans into mass hysteria, it might be this Saturday matchup with Toronto on the second night of a back-to-back.

Things haven’t been great for the Leafs as of late, letting one get away against the Vegas Golden Knights, and then somehow losing 4-2 at home to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. Just another day in the life of being a Leafs fan, and I can already hear Steve Dangle’s video loud and clear.

Zach Aston-Reese and William Nylander scored for Toronto and Erik Kallgren made 19 saves in what was another instance that they need some goalie help. Perhaps some will be on the way with Matt Murray possibly returning, but it’s just not a good time in Toronto. I can’t imagine Murray actually helping the cause, but sheesh, this team is failing and I’m here for it.

"I felt we had some really good portions of the second period," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "I felt some of the first period was OK, not nearly as good as we'd expect but we are up 1-0 and in a good spot there with a great goal from Aston-Reese to give us a lead. I was really disappointed how we closed out that period to give them one back."

Toronto had just 4 shots in the third period after having 16 in the second. That’s a sign of a team just giving up and looking tired of all this bull that’s happening around them. I don’t want to actually hate the Maple Leafs; just the fans and the Toronto media make it so easy for them to be hated. The more people just keep losing their minds and seeing things unfold the way they are, the more it makes me happy.

That’s why I’m internally hoping the Canucks find it in their hearts to play like the team they’ve supposed to be all year long and win one for the Gipper. And what better way to shake off the cobwebs from that horrendous 5-2 loss in Montreal on Wednesday than to beat the Leafs?

Vancouver, much like it has been all year, got punked against Montreal. So much so that Thatcher Demko is getting in fights with Brendan Gallagher because he’s that dumb, and Vancouver’s overall defense might have been the worst it’s been all year in this one game. Just look at the J.T. Miller turnover that scored one of Kirby Dach’s two goals.

"There's no excuse for the way we started tonight," Canucks forward Bo Horvat said. "I thought there were parts of our game that I really liked, but it just obviously wasn't good enough all around."

Vancouver, you have a chance to turn Canada upside down and give the hockey world a hearty laugh. I’m counting on you.

Prediction


Goaltending is going to win this one. Vancouver has had some days off. Demko should be better. This is going to be a rare time to play the underdog money line here. You should take full advantage of that and hope for everyone that the Canucks win. Canucks win 4-2

Betting trends


Canucks are 86-61 on the road after 2 days of rest since 1996.

Canucks are 158-171 in road games after losing 2 of 3 since 1996.

Maple Leafs are 2-6 in non-conference games this season.

Canucks are 136-152 on the road after allowing 3 goals or more in 2 straight since 1996.

Projected lines


Canucks:

Tanner Pearson -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser

Ilya Mikheyev -- Elias Pettersson -- Andrei Kuzmenko

Vasily Podkolzin -- Bo Horvat -- Conor Garland

Dakota Joshua -- Nils Aman -- Jack Studnicka

Quinn Hughes -- Luke Schenn

Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Tyler Myers

Jack Rathbone -- Ethan Bear

Thatcher Demko

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

Keith Petruzzelli

Statistical leaders


Canucks:
Points: Elias Pettersson -- 18
Goals: Bo Horvat -- 12
Assists: Elias Pettersson -- 12
Goalie: Thatcher Demko -- 1-7-2, 4.01 GAA, .874 SV%

Maple Leafs:
Points: Mitch Marner -- 17
Goals: John Tavares -- 8
Assists: Mitch Marner -- 14
Goalie: Ilya Samsonov -- 6-2-0, 2.23 GAA, .921 SV%

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Vancouver Canucks - Toronto Maple Leafs prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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