Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Nashville Predators are at a crossroads this season. Last season did not go as planned for either club. Now they have to decide if they want to forge on further or start making tough decisions.
In Tuesday’s matchup, the Maple Leafs have the edge at -218 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Predators are listed at +180. The total is set at 6.5 goals. Let’s get into a preview, prediction, and pick for this matchup between the Maple Leafs and Predators.
Maple Leafs vs. Predators preview, prediction
The torture continued last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since 2017, the beginning of Auston Matthews’ tenure as a Leaf, they’ve made the playoffs in every single season. That’s nine straight postseason appearances. Seven of those ended in first-round defeats, and the two times they made it to the conference semifinals, they were dispatched by the Florida Panthers.
Now they have to navigate life without Mitch Marner. Depending on who you ask, his absence may be a good thing, but it’s never easy replacing a 100-point player. Matthews remains in his prime, and William Nylander will step up, but John Tavares isn’t getting any younger. It’s do-or-die time for Toronto.
The same can be said for Nashville. After a 99-point 2023 season, the Predators added Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in hopes of supplementing their long-time core duo of Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi. That turned into a disaster — Nashville’s 68-point showing last season was horrendous, finishing second-to-last in goals scored and surrendering the sixth-most goals to opponents.
They avoided the teardown in the offseason, but the clock is ticking. Josi, Stamkos, and Marchessault are all 35 years old. Ryan O’Reilly is 34, Forsberg is 31, and workhorse netminder Juuse Saros is 30. If the ship isn’t righted soon, Nashville could turn into an explosive fire sale at the trade deadline.
Maple Leafs vs. Predators pick, best bet
It’s going to be a clash of styles on Tuesday. Nashville shored up their checking forwards and hard-nosed defensemen in the hopes of cleaning things up in front of Saros; so far, that’s holding up. Meanwhile, the Leafs continue to find themselves in roller-coaster games as 16 goals have been scored across their first two contests.
Something has to give. Even if Toronto gets its way as home favorites, goals should be at more of a premium. And I’m not counting on the Nashville offense to pitch in much.
