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The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make it three wins in a row when they host the LA Kings at the Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs are 2-1-0, with the Kings at 1-0-2. We tell you who will win and the best bets to place in our latest NHL betting picks.
- What: NHL
- Who: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Los Angeles Kings
- Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
- When: Wednesday, October 16th, 2024
- Time: 7.30 p.m ET
The big picture
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on a winning run of two matches. They come into the showdown against the Kings off the back of a William Nylander two-goal game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nylanders’s double helped them to a 4-2 win at the Scotiabank.
The LA Kings head southwest from Ottawa after suffering an 8-7 overtime loss to the Senators on Monday. LA collected at least one point for the third time this season. But the Kings were 3-1 up and in control at one stage. So even with a point in the bag, this will feel more like a defeat for Jim Hiller’s side.
Maple Leafs vs. Kings Match Betting
The top-rated NHL betting online sites say the Maple Leafs will win this match.
On the money line, the Toronto Maple Leafs are -170. The LA Kings are +145.
Onto the handicap spread, and the Kings receive the 1.5-point start. To win with the spread, LA is -170. To win and cover the spread, Toronto is +145.
On the total points line, the spread is 6. Over 6 is the favorite at -120, with under 6 goals at +100.
In the latest betting to win the 2025 Stanley Cup, the Maple Leafs are +1000 fourth-favorites. The Kings are +2200.
More NHL betting options can be found on our Maple Leafs vs. Kings betting table. All our odds are taken from the best sites for NHL betting.
| Maple Leafs vs. Kings |  |  |  |
| Maple Leafs | -170 | -130 | -130 |
| Kings | +145 | +110 | +110 |
| Maple Leafs (-1.5) | +175 | +175 | +175 |
| Kings (+1.5) | -210 | -210 | -210 |
Maple Leafs looking to build momentum
At the Scotiabank Arena in the 2023/24 campaign, the Maple Leafs had a 23-17-4 record. Overall they were 46-26-10. In the Atlantic Division this season, Toronto is 2-1-0.
The 2024/25 season began disappointingly with a 1-0 road-trip defeat to the Canadiens. Toronto bounced back with a 4-2 win over the Devils at the Prudential Center.
The win over the Devils wasn’t as impressive as the result suggests. Toronto raced into an early 3-0 lead but then had to rely on rookie goaltender Dennis Hildeby in what can only be described as a lackluster display by the team.
Nevertheless, playing poorly and still winning can’t be underestimated. The Maple Leafs took the confidence gained from the win into their next match against the Penguins and scored another four on their way to a comfortable 4-2 victory over Pittsburg.
The @MapleLeafs pick up two points in their home opener! 🍁 #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/7AauDrznds
— NHL (@NHL) October 13, 2024
A win against the Kings will see Toronto build some momentum early on in the season.
LA Kings need to take the positives from early season form
On the road last season the Los Angeles Kings were 23-17-4. Overall, their record read 44-27-11.
In the new term, Los Angeles is 1-0-2. They sit on four points in the Pacific Division. It’s not a bad start. But it could have been better.
An opening road trip 3-1 win over the Sabres got the season off to the perfect start. The win was followed by a 2-1 overtime defeat to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden over the weekend.
Trevor Moore gave the Kings the lead in the second. But LA couldn’t hold onto their advantage for long, with Elias Lindholm tying the match in the same period. The Bruins sealed the win with a goal from David Pastrnak 3:07 into overtime.
If that was hard on the Kings, Monday’s loss to the Senators will feel even worse.
LA kept things tight against Boston. In the match against the Senators, they conceded eight. And having led for 29 minutes, the Kings will rightly be hurting to lose the match.
The bottom line is, they only have themselves to blame.
OTTAWA WINS A WILD BACK-AND-FORTH GAME IN OVERTIME! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/pxfGyaiw4g
— NHL (@NHL) October 14, 2024
Los Angeles does need to look at the positives, though. They have four points from their opening three matches. We’re pretty sure Jim Hiller would have taken that if offered at the start of the season.
Maple Leafs vs. Kings Betting Picks and Predictions
For our opening NHL hockey pick we are going for over 6 goals at -120. The Maple Leafs have scored eight in their last two. They’ve also conceded two in both matches.
For our match-winner pick, we are leaning towards Toronto to win and cover the spread.
Are the Kings going to be able to put their 8-7 loss behind them? The mentality in which they approach this game will be crucial to how it turns out. There wasn’t a lot wrong with their performance against the Bruins. And that was only two matches ago.
Nevertheless, it will be difficult for LA to get their two overtime defeats out of their system.
We say the Kings are vulnerable after two close losses. And along with an attacking Maple Leafs who have scored heavily in their last two outings, it’s worth taking the extra risk for the better odds and backing Toronto to not just win, but also to cover the spread.
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