Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The Washington Capitals (10-4-0) host the Toronto Maple Leafs (9-6-2) on Wednesday night with both teams looking to move closer to the top of their respective divisions.

Continue reading for picks and predictions for tonight's matchup, courtesy of our friends at Daily Faceoff.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals betting picks and predictions

Toronto managed to win three games without captain Auston Matthews by holding each opponent to one or fewer goals, including two shutouts. However, on Tuesday, it was the Maple Leafs who were shut out by the Ottawa Senators.

The signs had been there: Toronto had been outshot in three of their last four games, heading into Tuesday’s game but it marked their worst performance yet. Ottawa outshot them 41-27, and Toronto failed to reach double-digit shots in any period.

On Wednesday, they’ll face a Washington team that they have gone 8-1 straight up against since the start of the 2021-22 season, however, this season’s version of the Capitals has a different look.

Washington is coming off an 8-1 win over the St. Louis Blues and they are tied for the second-most goals per 60 minutes in the league. The Capitals have the underlying metrics to back it up, too.

Washington currently ranks as the second-best team in expected goals, a statistic that weighs shots based on various factors like type, location, and distance. Not to mention, the Capitals have a three-day rest advantage.

Alex Ovechkin has turned back the clock with 10 goals and 18 points in 14 games, but it’s the next wave of stars that are driving the Capitals to be one of the best teams in the NHL. Dylan Strome is tied for eighth in scoring with 22 points, and Connor McMichael (10-6–16) and Aliaksei Protas (5-8–13) have also had breakout seasons.

In fact, McMichael leads the team in shots on goal since Oct. 29 with 32 in the last seven games. The 23-year-old has registered three or more shots in half of his games this season.

Washington Capitals ML (-140)

Connor McMichael Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+128)

Read the latest NHL betting picks and predictions on site.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals odds

TOR Maple Leafs	+120 ML
WAS Capitals	-140 ML
Puck Line	WAS -1.5 (+180)
Total Goals	O/U 6.0

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Better Collective. Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.