Following a 4-2 defeat against the Montreal Canadiens on March 26, theToronto Maple Leafs Leafs have been on fire, clinching victory in seven out of their last eight matches, with the sole defeat occurring in overtime against the Florida Panthers.
Before suffering a nail-biting 7-6 loss to the Florida Panthers on April 5, the Leafs managed to net at least six goals in five consecutive games. This stellar scoring achievement has been spearheaded by star center andHart Trophy favorite Auston Matthews, who has netted 11 goals during this eight-game streak, widening his lead in the league to eight goals over Leon Draisaitl from the Oilers.
Matthews has now set the record for the most goals in a single season for both the Maple Leafs and any player born in America in the history of the league. His first of two goals in Toronto's 3-2 triumph over the Canadiens on Saturday marked his 50th goal in just 50 gamesâa feat not achieved since Mario Lemieux during the 1995-96 season.
The regulated and competitiveOntario sports betting The market was launched on April 4, perfectly timed for the NHL's final stretch leading up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Updated Hart Trophy Odds
| â Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs | -160 |
| â Connor McDavid, Oilers | +280 |
| â Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers | +1000 |
| â Johnny Gaudreau, Flames | +1400 |
| â Igor Shesterkin, Rangers | +1800 |
| â Leon Draisaitl, Oilers | +2800 |
Tough for Leafs to Catch Florida
On a broader team level, despite this impressive run of form, it's unlikely Toronto will catch up to the Panthers to claim the Atlantic Division title. Currently, Florida holds an eight-point advantage over the Leafs with just 10 games remaining, making them strong favorites at odds of -3000 to retain their lead. The Panthers have achieved a seven-game winning streak.
Toronto (+1800 for a miraculous comeback to win the division) is instead locked in a competitive battle for playoff seeding against the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. The team that finishes best among these three will secure home-ice advantage in the first playoff round. Toronto presently leads the Bruins by five points and has a six-point cushion over the Lightning in this tightly contested division battle that is set to go down to the final games.
As has been the case all season long, the Leafsâ performance in the regular season will ultimately not define them. However, recent displays inspire optimism in Ontario sports fans andNHL bettors indicate that their team has a genuine opportunity to progress past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Toronto is +900 to win the Stanley Cup Moreover, the Leafs hold the second-best odds among Eastern Conference teams, trailing only the Panthers. They're vying to become the first Canadian franchise to capture the Stanley Cup since 1993, boasting the most favorable odds for Canadian teams.
Fromdeereplanet.com
NHL Goal Leaders
| â Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs | 58 |
| â Leon Draisaitl, Oilers | 50 |
| â Chris Kreider, Rangers | 49 |
| â Alex Ovechkin, Capitals | 44 |
| â Connor McDavid, Oilers | 42 |
Leafs Offense is Flying
The teamâs offensive play has been extraordinary, led primarily by Matthews. Meanwhile, Mitch Marner is also on track for a remarkable 100-point season, Morgan Rielly ranks fifth in points among all defensemen, and both William Nylander and John Tavares are maintaining near-point-per-game averages. These players contribute to Toronto's powerhouse powerplay, which has converted an impressive 30% of its opportunities this season.
As previously highlighted, Matthews is the driving force behind Toronto's success. After a slow beginning to the current season and missing a few games due to injury, he scored his first goal on October 25. Since that time, he has amassed an incredible 58 goals, maintaining an elite scoring rate not seen in the NHL for years.
With two goals in his last matchup against the Canadiens, Matthews achieved the milestone of 50 goals in 50 gamesâan astonishing accomplishment reminiscent of the great offensive outputs from stars like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
Connor McDavid of the Oilers is also enjoying an outstanding season and had recently matched Matthews' odds for the Hart Trophy. However, McDavid did not score in a 2-1 loss to the Avalanche on Saturday night, and following Matthewsâ stellar performance against the Canadiens, he now stands at -160 to secure the awardâa significant shift as itâs the tightest odds anyone has encountered for the Hart throughout the season, suggesting a head-to-head race between him and McDavid.bet365 Canada A Wide Variety of Betting Options. User-Friendly Desktop & Mobile Interface. 24/7 Customer Service.
Matthews Adding Assists, Too
While postseason success is never assured, particularly in a robust division like the Atlantic, the Maple Leafs have done a commendable job of positioning themselves strongly to push past the first playoff round for the first time in a long while after overcoming a brief slump.
They need to maintain their lead over Tampa Bay or Boston for that home-ice advantage, but their recent victories against both squads are encouraging indicators. If Toronto can sustain its impressive level of play, the advantage of playing at home will further bolster their chances.
The Maple Leafs will face the Buffalo Sabres in their home arena this Tuesday.
Online Casino Games Available in Ontario Featuring Exciting Themes and More
