The Toronto Maple Leafs take a winning streak into Saturday’s matchup with the Nashville Predators.
The pregame narrative: Matthew Knies has been an integral part of the Leafs’ lineup and I’m taking a shot on him to get on the score sheet at a good price. Additionally, my best bet for the game is a pick on Steven Stamkos.
Check out my Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Predators for March 22.
Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Predators
Best Bet: Stamkos to record 1+ points (-134)
Stamkos has turned things around nicely in March. I want to narrow in on his last eight games:
- 6 goals
- 5 assists
- 1+ points in 6 of 8
He was also named the NHL’s second star of the week for March 3-9.
Stamkos is having the worst season of his career at 35 years old, but he’s proven lately that he still has his offensive touch.
Toronto is a top team in the East, but its defence has struggled recently. In 11 games in March, the Leafs allowed 3.5 goals per game. That would rank near the bottom of the league over the full season.
Plus, the Predators are playing at home, where they hold a 17-14-3 record (compared to 8-21-5 elsewhere).
Key stat: Stamkos has been better on home ice, too. He has 25 of his 44 points in Nashville.
Quick pick
Knies to record 1+ points (-130): These sides first met on Dec. 4. The Leafs won 3-2, and Knies tallied an assist on a power-play goal scored by William Nylander.
Overall, Knies is having a great season, filling his role and recording 45 points in 65 games. That is already a career best with plenty of time to add to the total.
He’s an important part of the offence, playing 19-plus minutes in four of the past five games.
Knies continues to hold his spot on the first line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. He’s also on the No. 1 power-play unit that includes John Tavares and William Nylander.
I don’t think there are many better situations in the NHL for a young forward. He continues to benefit, scoring points in eight of the last 12 games.
Nashville ranks near the bottom of the league defensively, allowing 3.26 goals per game (seventh-most).
Maple Leafs vs. Predators prop picks made at 10:55 a.m. ET 03/22/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.