Rangers vs. Maple Leafs prediction: NHL odds, picks, bets for Saturday

The Rangers and Maple Leafs are among the best starters in the NHL this young season. The Blueshirts have the league’s best goal difference (plus-11) and are one of five teams left in the circuit without a regulation loss.Toronto dropped its first game of the season but responded with three wins on the spin and has allowed just seven goals in four contests. Both of these teams were projected to be Stanley Cup contenders and were among the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and so far, neither has done anything to throw cold water on that notion. What is noteworthy for this particular handicap is how these two teams have achieved their results so far this season.

While we’d think of both the Rangers and Maple Leafs as offensive forces because of their star power, it’s their defensive acumen that has driven their success so far. Combined, the Blueshirts and Buds have conceded just nine goals at five-on-five through eight total games, and they’ve also held their opponents to two goals or less on seven occasions. There is always a chance that a matchup like this will go completely off the rails because of the offensive talent on display, but I would say that it’s more likely that the story of this game will be defense and goaltending.And what’s more is that, since there’s so much skill involved, the bookmakers have to set the total pretty high to guard against over money a bit. Most folks will look at these two rosters and think it’ll be a jazzy, back-and-forth affair.

Savvier bettors will go the other way and lean into the defensive strengths of the Leafs and Rangers. The play: Under 6 (+100, BetMGM)Michael Leboff handicaps the EPL, NHL, golf and anything else that isn’t the NFL and NBA for the NY Post.He’s up 49.73 units betting EPL with a 7.17% ROI....