A loaded 15-game NHL slate on Saturday features the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Vancouver Canucks.
The pregame narrative: Matthew Knies has been scorching hot and I like him to pick up a point in the interconference showdown against Vancouver. Additionally, I’m backing Quinn Hughes to produce on the power play and fading Jake DeBrusk’s shots prop.
Check out my Maple Leafs props vs. Canucks for Jan. 11.
Maple Leafs props vs. Canucks
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Best bet: Knies to score 1+ points (-112)
Knies has relished his opportunity on Toronto’s first line, and I expect more production against a suspect defensive team.
His linemates tonight will be Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, who’ve combined for a whopping 90 points at the halfway mark of the season.
Knies has 27 points in 41 games and is on pace to smash his points total from last season (35).
In his last four games, he’s scored five goals and tallied three assists. He also has a staggering 50.0% shooting percentage in that span.
The 22-year-old’s confidence seems to be growing exponentially with the more playing time he gets. His 22.2 SH% on the season exceeded his career average by more than nine percentage points.
Key stat: Vancouver accrues the eighth-most penalty minutes per game (9.4) and ranks 21st in goals allowed per game (3.15).
Quick picks
DeBrusk under 1.5 shots (+125): DeBrusk hasn’t been shooting the puck a ton despite his production this season.
He paces the Canucks in goals (17) but has been on a cold stretch lately, with just three in his last 13 games.
DeBrusk’s career-high 19.5 SH% plays a factor. He’s on track to break his single-season goals record (27) and is shooting the puck at an ultra-efficient rate.
Vancouver has the second-lowest shots on goal per game (25.4), ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Canucks are fifth-worst in high-danger chances per 60 (9.88).
DeBrusk has cashed this bet in four of the last five games.
Hughes over 0.5 power-play points (+130): Hughes has been Vancouver’s best player this year, and it’s not particularly close.
- 1st in points (45)
- 1st in assists (37)
- 1st in time on ice (25:19)
- 2nd in plus-minus (+12)
Despite the Canucks’ offensive woes, their 14th-ranked power play has been sufficient — and it’s led by the reigning Norris Trophy winner.
Hughes paces all Canucks in power-play points (18) and power-play ice time (3:47/game). He has eight more power-play points than the next Canucks player.
In his past seven games, Hughes has four power-play points.
Picks made at 1:43 p.m. ET on 01/11/2025.
