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Penguins vs. Maple Leafs prop picks Dec. 23: Back Sidney Crosby, William Nylander to clear shot totals

The Toronto Maple Leafs are home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 4:00 p.m. local start on Tuesday, following a disasterous three-game road trip.

The pregame narrative: Toronto went 0-3 on the road, while getting outscored 14-4. The Maple Leafs now sit last in the Atlantic Division and are one point behind the Penguins in the league-wide standings. Toronto is favoured in today’s matchup with an over/under of 6 goals.

Check out my Penguins vs. Maple Leafs prop picks for Dec. 23, featuring Sidney Crosby and William Nylander.

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Penguins vs. Maple Leafs prop picks

Best Bet: Crosby over 2.5 shots (+110)

Toronto has had highs and lows during the first three months of this season, but the peaks have largely been because of elite goaltending.

The Maple Leafs’ defence has been consistently awful, meaning things can get ugly once the goaltending falls off. Just look at what happened over their recent road trip.

Toronto allowed 14 goals on 85 shots.

On the season, the Maple Leafs allow the most shot attempts (63.3) and the second-most shots (30.72) on a 60-minute basis.

-> Bet on today’s Penguins vs. Maple Leafs matchup now!

Teams have been teeing off on Toronto’s goalies all year, and I think Crosby and Co. will do the same today.

The future Hall of Famer hasn’t slowed down in his 21st season. He ranks seventh in goals (20) and is averaging 2.4 shots per game, which is right in line with this number.

Key stat: Crosby had four shots and two points when he played the Maple Leafs on Nov. 29.

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Best NHL prop picks

Nylander over 2.5 shots (+145): What in the Elias Pettersson is happening to Nylander?

The Swede’s powers seem to have been zapped since the start of December, as he has just four points (all assists) in 10 games.

That came after a red-hot start, where he logged 11 goals and 32 points in October and November.

-> Bet on Nylander at NorthStar Bets

Nylander isn’t playing with a ton of confidence right now, but I can’t pass on his shot total when it’s priced like this.

He’s only 3-7 against this line in his last 10, but he averaged north of three shots per game last year and draws a favourable matchup.

Pittsburgh allows the 13th-most shot attempts on a 60-minute basis. Nylander is 6-3 against this line in his last nine games against Pittsburgh.

Penguins vs. Maple Leafs prop picks made at 10:36 a.m. ET Dec. 23, 2025.

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Maple Leafs vs. Stars SGP predictions Dec. 21: Expect Matthew Knies, Jason Robertson to shine

The Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling ahead of a second half of a back-to-back against the Dallas Stars.

The pregame narrative: The Leafs lost 5-3 last night and now travel to Dallas to play a surging Stars squad. Toronto will need a much better effort tonight to rebound against one of the best teams in the Western Conference.

Check out my Maple Leafs vs. Stars SGP predictions on Dec. 21, featuring Jason Robertson and Matthew Knies.

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Lightning vs. Maple Leafs predictions

Parlay: Stars ML | Robertson 1+ points | Knies 1+ points (+295)

Stars ML (-205): There is no trusting the Leafs in this one.

They have lost four of their last five games and have ultimately played worse on the road, with a 5-9-0 record this season.

The defence continues to be a disappointment, while the offence is far from the explosive unit it once was.

Toronto was embarrassed by the Nashville Predators on Saturday, and the task only gets tougher on Sunday.

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The Stars are an incredible team. They are having an amazing season that is being overshadowed by the Colorado Avalanche’s historic start.

But that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Stars are elite. They are 24-7-5 this season with a +32 goal differential.

On top of that, they’ve won three in a row and seven of their past 10. That includes battering the Anaheim Ducks 8-3 last time out.

If Toronto wants to beat Dallas, it needs to bring its A-game. I don’t see that as a possible outcome with the Leafs on a back-to-back playing some terrible hockey.

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Leafs SGP picks

Robertson 1+ points (-275): This is the perfect matchup for a guy like Robertson.

He takes a ton of shots, and the Leafs welcome that, allowing the second-most shots per game in the NHL (31.3).

Against Anaheim, Robertson had two goals and an assist. He is now 19-6 on this wager since the start of November, with 34 points during that time.

That brings me back to the Leafs’ defence. To go along with giving up a lot of shots, they naturally rank in the bottom 10 for goals allowed.

This is a prime spot for a forward of Robertson’s skill, and he should take full advantage.

-> Don’t miss out — make your own SGP here!

Knies 1+ points (-115): Knies hasn’t been producing for the Leafs, but he is often in a position to succeed.

He continues to play over 20 minutes a night, skating on the top line and first power play unit.

Despite only having one point in the past seven games, he still has 29 points in 31 games this season.

Even though the Stars are a strong defensive team, they rank right in the middle of the pack for shots allowed, and they take a lot of penalty minutes.

That could be the formula needed for Knies to get back on track.

Maple Leafs vs. Stars SGP made at 9:45 a.m. ET on Dec. 21, 2025.

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NHL parlay picks and predictions: Back offence in Maple Leafs vs. Predators, Macklin Celebrini to continue scoring streak

The Saturday NHL slate is loaded with 13 games, which is plenty to choose from for a parlay.

The pregame narrative: Macklin Celebrini is lighting up the NHL in his second season and I expect him to keep rolling for the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Before that, expect a lot of goals when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Nashville Predators.

Check out the full +304 NHL parlay predictions Dec. 20, featuring a pick on the Boston Bruins.

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NHL parlay predictions Dec. 20

Parlay: Celebrini to record a point | Leafs/Predators over 6 goals | Bruins ML (+304)

Celebrini to record a point (-360): This pick has a steep price, but it brings the parlay from +216 to +304, so I’ll gladly add it in.

The sophomore is having a historic campaign, ranking third in the NHL with 53 points, behind only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.

He’s been extremely consistent, and he’s red hot right now.

Celebrini has at least a point in 27 of 35 games this season.

That includes a current four-game point streak in which he has tallied 10 points total.

-> Don’t miss out — Bet on Celebrini props now!

The other good news is the Sharks will play at home, where they are 10-6-3 this season.

Celebrini has 27 points in those 19 games at SAP Center.

His opponent, the Seattle Kraken, have a below-average defence with the worst penalty kill in the NHL (68.5%).

Not that the matchup matters much, but this is a good spot for Celebrini to do damage.

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Other picks

Leafs/Predators over 6 goals (-106): The Predators are one of the few teams in the NHL that is as bad defensively as the Leafs.

Nashville allows the second-most goals per game (3.48).

Toronto ranks in the bottom 10 for goals allowed, while giving up the second most shots per game (31.2).

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This has all the makings of a shootout. The Leafs score a lot to pair with their atrocious defence. They are eighth in the league in goals per game (3.18).

The Preds don’t have the same firepower, but any team can seemingly score a few against the Leafs right now.

Last time out, Toronto got embarrassed by the Washington Capitals, 4-0. A couple of games before that, the Edmonton Oilers scored six in a 6-3 win.

We also saw the offensive potential in this matchup earlier this season. On Oct. 14th, the Leafs beat the Predators 7-4.

Bruins moneyline (-165): The Vancouver Canucks looked like they were giving up on the season when they traded away Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.

However, Vancouver has won three straight road games ahead of this contest. I see that streak coming to an end tonight.

That’s mainly because the Bruins are a great home team, owning a 12-6 record when playing in Boston.

Another factor is that the Canucks played last in New York on Friday against the Islanders. A road back-to-back is difficult to overcome for any team.

Finally, the Bruins are simply the better team. They sit fourth in the Atlantic with serious playoff aspirations.

Meanwhile, Vancouver still has a record below .500 despite winning three straight games.

It’s easy to back the streaking team, but everything else in this matchup points to the Bruins playing spoiler.

NHL parlay predictions made at 9:55 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2025.

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Oilers vs. Canadiens picks Dec. 14: Expect Ivan Demidov to contribute to a high-scoring contest

The Edmonton Oilers play their second game in as many nights when they take on the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

The pregame narrative: Edmonton continues an Eastern Conference road trip that started with a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. Montreal also played on Saturday and lost 5-4 in overtime to the New York Rangers.

Check out my Oilers vs. Canadiens picks for the Dec. 14 game, featuring Ivan Demidov.

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Oilers vs. Canadiens picks

Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-118)

This game has serious offensive potential. Both teams excel at scoring goals while being pretty bad at keeping them out.

Let’s start with the Oilers. They score the third most goals per game (3.41) to go with a blistering 31.3% power play conversion rate.

They have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ranked in the top five in the NHL for scoring. That provides an extremely good base for an electric offence that can go off any night.

The Oilers made a trade to acquire Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he played last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, leaving Calvin Pickard (.851 SV%) to guard the twine.

-> Bet on tonight’s Oilers vs. Canadiens matchup now!

Then there’s Montreal with even bigger goalie problems. They allow the second-most goals per game (3.55) and are expected to start Jakub Dobes on Sunday.

The second-year goalie has allowed seven goals on 32 shots in his last two starts combined. That won’t fly against the Oilers.

Montreal probably won’t shut out Edmonton, but it can keep pace, and that should push this game over this total.

Key stat: The Habs rank in the top 10 in goals for (3.19/game), shooting percentage (12.7) and power play percentage (25.3).

Best NHL prop picks

Demidov to record 1+ points (-130): The 20-year-old is going under the radar, but he is having an elite rookie season.

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He sits fourth on the Habs with 24 points in 31 games. That’s a 64-point pace. For reference, Macklin Celebrini had 63 points as a rookie last year.

Demidov was held without a point last night, but he scored a point in five straight games before that.

Overall, he has at least a point in 11 of the last 13 games.

He’s super efficient with his playing time. He averages less than 15 minutes on ice per game, but he plays on the top power play, where he has eight points this season.

In a game where I expect a lot of goals, Demidov has value to get his name on the score sheet.

Oilers vs. Canadiens picks made at 10:36 a.m. ET Dec. 14, 2025.

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Oilers vs. Canadiens picks Dec. 14: Expect Ivan Demidov to contribute to a high-scoring contest

The Edmonton Oilers play their second game in as many nights when they take on the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

The pregame narrative: Edmonton continues an Eastern Conference road trip that started with a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. Montreal also played on Saturday and lost 5-4 in overtime to the New York Rangers.

Check out my Oilers vs. Canadiens picks for the Dec. 14 game, featuring Ivan Demidov.

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Oilers vs. Canadiens picks

Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-109)

This game has serious offensive potential. Both teams excel at scoring goals while being pretty bad at keeping them out.

Let’s start with the Oilers. They score the third most goals per game (3.41) to go with a blistering 31.3% power play conversion rate.

They have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ranked in the top five in the NHL for scoring. That provides an extremely good base for an electric offence that can go off any night.

The Oilers made a trade to acquire Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he played last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, leaving Calvin Pickard (.851 SV%) to guard the twine.

-> Bet on tonight’s Oilers vs. Canadiens matchup now!

Then there’s Montreal with even bigger goalie problems. They allow the second-most goals per game (3.55) and are expected to start Jakub Dobes on Sunday.

The second-year goalie has allowed seven goals on 32 shots in his last two starts combined. That won’t fly against the Oilers.

Montreal probably won’t shut out Edmonton, but it can keep pace, and that should push this game over this total.

Key stat: The Habs rank in the top 10 in goals for (3.19/game), shooting percentage (12.7) and power play percentage (25.3).

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Best NHL prop picks

Demidov to record 1+ points (-127): The 20-year-old is going under the radar, but he is having an elite rookie season.

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He sits fourth on the Habs with 24 points in 31 games. That’s a 64-point pace. For reference, Macklin Celebrini had 63 points as a rookie last year.

Demidov was held without a point last night, but he scored a point in five straight games before that.

Overall, he has at least a point in 11 of the last 13 games.

He’s super efficient with his playing time. He averages less than 15 minutes on ice per game, but he plays on the top power play, where he has eight points this season.

In a game where I expect a lot of goals, Demidov has value to get his name on the score sheet.

Oilers vs. Canadiens picks made at 10:36 a.m. ET Dec. 14, 2025.

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Best NHL prop picks Dec. 13: Bet on Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen on Saturday night

Two of the NHL’s most electric talents headline Saturday’s NHL prop picks.

The pregame narrative: Cale Makar is a massive favourite to win his third Norris Trophy and has value to clear his shot total against the Nashville Predators. I’m also backing his former teammate, Mikko Rantanen, to score against a struggling Sergei Bobrovsky.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Dec. 13.

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NHL prop picks Dec. 13

Best bet: Makar over 2.5 shots (-143)

Makar holds -1,000 odds to defend his Norris Trophy as of Dec. 13.

It’s hard to argue against that, considering he’s the No. 1 defenceman on a Colorado Avalanche team with just two regulation losses in 31 games.

Makar has 37 points so far, putting him on pace for 97. That would be a career-best mark.

There’s no value in backing him to find the stat sheet at -305 tonight, but his 2.5-shot total jumped off the page at me.

-> Bet on Makar and the Avalanche tonight

Makar is averaging exactly three shots a game and has a plus matchup against Nashville.

The Predators have been a defensive mess in December, allowing the fourth-most shots on a 60-minute basis (32.42), per Natural Stat Trick.

They played the Avalanche on Dec. 9 and gave up 42 shots in a 4-3 shootout win. Makar had six shots in that game and is more than capable of replicating that performance.

Key stat: Makar’s 231 shot attempts rank third in the NHL.

NHL predictions

Rantanen to score (+145): Is it time to press the goaltender panic button in Florida?

Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina winner and back-to-back champ, probably deserves a little more time. But it’s fair to wonder if the 37-year-old is in serious regression mode.

Bobrovsky has a 2.98 GAA and .882 SV%. The latter mark ranks 48th out of 52 qualified netminders.

He also ranks 30th out of 34 goalies with 15+ games played in goals saved above expected per 60, per Money Puck.

-> See Saturday’s player prop markets at NorthStar Bets

Rantanen’s 13 goals in 31 games put him on pace for just 34 — but he scored a combined 97 goals in his last two full seasons with the Avalanche, so I think he’s got a lot more in the tank.

I think this is a great matchup for the Finnish forward to get on the board.

NHL prop picks made at 10:40 a.m. ET on Dec. 13, 2025.

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Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks Dec. 13: Take the over in marquee Hockey Night in Canada matchup

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Edmonton Oilers in Hockey Night in Canada’s marquee matchup.

The pregame narrative: Edmonton made waves yesterday, trading Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry, among some other pieces. The newly-acquired netminder is expected to start tonight against a Maple Leafs team that has points in six straight games (4-0-2).

Check out my Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks for the Dec. 13 game.

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Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks

Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-110)

I have a feeling fans in attendance will be treated to a high-scoring thriller.

Toronto has gotten fantastic goaltending out of Dennis Hildeby, but we’re reaching uncharted territory for the rookie netminder.

He’ll be starting a fourth consecutive game after never making back-to-back starts before Joseph Woll went down with an injury.

The Leafs have given up an average of 31.6 shots per game during this run, so it’s fair to assume his .962 SV% in December will regress eventually.

-> Bet on tonight’s Oilers vs. Maple Leafs matchup now!

Edmonton, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, has one of the most electric offences in the NHL. It has scored 22 goals in its last four games and ranks fifth in goals per game (3.32).

Right behind Edmonton in that metric is Toronto (3.30 goals/game).

I don’t really understand the Skinner-for-Jarry move and view it as more of a lateral, change-of-scenery trade, rather than a clear-cut upgrade.

Jarry has a career .909 SV% and got lit up by the Maple Leafs twice this year as a member of the Penguins. He gave up seven goals on 33 shots in those contests (.787 SV%).

Key stat: Five of the last six games between the Leafs and Oilers have gone over this total.

Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks made at 10:36 a.m. ET Dec. 13, 2025.

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Best NHL prop picks Dec. 13: Bet on Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen on Saturday night

Two of the NHL’s most electric talents headline Saturday’s NHL prop picks.

The pregame narrative: Cale Makar is a massive favourite to win his third Norris Trophy and has value to clear his shot total against the Nashville Predators. I’m also backing his former teammate, Mikko Rantanen, to score against a struggling Sergei Bobrovsky.

Check out my NHL prop picks for Dec. 13.

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NHL prop picks Dec. 13

Best bet: Makar over 2.5 shots (-130)

Makar holds -1,000 odds to defend his Norris Trophy as of Dec. 13.

It’s hard to argue against that, considering he’s the No. 1 defenceman on a Colorado Avalanche team with just two regulation losses in 31 games.

Makar has 37 points so far, putting him on pace for 97. That would be a career-best mark.

There’s no value in backing him to find the stat sheet at -305 tonight, but his 2.5-shot total jumped off the page at me.

-> Bet on Makar and the Avalanche tonight

Makar is averaging exactly three shots a game and has a plus matchup against Nashville.

The Predators have been a defensive mess in December, allowing the fourth-most shots on a 60-minute basis (32.42), per Natural Stat Trick.

They played the Avalanche on Dec. 9 and gave up 42 shots in a 4-3 shootout win. Makar had six shots in that game and is more than capable of replicating that performance.

Key stat: Makar’s 231 shot attempts rank third in the NHL.

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NHL predictions

Rantanen to score (+145): Is it time to press the goaltender panic button in Florida?

Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina winner and back-to-back champ, probably deserves a little more time. But it’s fair to wonder if the 37-year-old is in serious regression mode.

Bobrovsky has a 2.98 GAA and .882 SV%. The latter mark ranks 48th out of 52 qualified netminders.

He also ranks 30th out of 34 goalies with 15+ games played in goals saved above expected per 60, per Money Puck.

-> See Saturday’s player prop markets at NorthStar Bets

Rantanen’s 13 goals in 31 games put him on pace for just 34 — but he scored a combined 97 goals in his last two full seasons with the Avalanche, so I think he’s got a lot more in the tank.

I think this is a great matchup for the Finnish forward to get on the board.

NHL prop picks made at 10:40 a.m. ET on Dec. 13, 2025.

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Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks Dec. 13: Take the over, bet on Matthews and Draisaitl to come through

The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Edmonton Oilers in Hockey Night in Canada’s marquee matchup.

The pregame narrative: Edmonton made waves yesterday, trading Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry, among some other pieces. The newly-acquired netminder is expected to start tonight against a Maple Leafs team that has points in six straight games (4-0-2).

Check out my Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks for the Dec. 13 game, featuring Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl.

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Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks

Best Bet: Over 6.5 goals (-108)

I have a feeling fans in attendance will be treated to a high-scoring thriller.

Toronto has gotten fantastic goaltending out of Dennis Hildeby, but we’re reaching uncharted territory for the rookie netminder.

He’ll be starting a fourth consecutive game after never making back-to-back starts before Joseph Woll went down with an injury.

The Leafs have given up an average of 31.6 shots per game during this run, so it’s fair to assume his .962 SV% in December will regress eventually.

-> Bet on tonight’s Oilers vs. Maple Leafs matchup now!

Edmonton, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, has one of the most electric offences in the NHL. It has scored 22 goals in its last four games and ranks fifth in goals per game (3.32).

Right behind Edmonton in that metric is Toronto (3.30 goals/game).

I don’t really understand the Skinner-for-Jarry move and view it as more of a lateral, change-of-scenery trade, rather than a clear-cut upgrade.

Jarry has a career .909 SV% and got lit up by the Maple Leafs twice this year as a member of the Penguins. He gave up seven goals on 33 shots in those contests (.787 SV%).

Key stat: Five of the last six games between the Leafs and Oilers have gone over this total.

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Best NHL prop picks

Parlay: Draisaitl and Matthews to each record a point (-127): I’m expecting the scoreboard operator to be busy, so it only makes sense to back one big dog from each team.

Draisaitl and Matthews have -385 and -235 odds to record a point, respectively. Unplayable on their own, but right in the sweet spot for a two-leg parlay.

-> Bet on Matthews and Draisaitl at NorthStar Bets

Matthews is starting to look like his old self, with points in six of his last seven games. In that span, he’s averaging a whopping 4.42 shots per game.

Draisaitl has points in 12 of his last 13 games, with 22 total points in that span. He has nine points in his last four games.

Oilers vs. Maple Leafs picks made at 10:36 a.m. ET Dec. 13, 2025.

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Stanley Cup odds and 2026 NHL betting favourites: Avalanche favoured, Oilers have top odds among Canadian teams

The Colorado Avalanche have the shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup midway through December.

The latest: Colorado, which only lost twice in regulation over the first two months, has been powered by NHL-leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon and Norris Trophy favourite Cale Makar. Fellow Team Canada star Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers are struggling after back-to-back Cup appearances, but they have the best odds to win among the seven Canadian clubs.

Check out the latest 2025-26 Stanley Cup odds below.

Stanley Cup odds

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