The Vancouver Canucks host the Toronto Maple Leafs for a Hockey Night in Canada showdown beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
The pregame narrative: Toronto’s offence has been firing on all cylinders during this road trip and I’m backing Matthew Knies to stay hot. On the other end, an embattled and rudderless Elias Pettersson is worth fading.
Check out my Maple Leafs vs. Canucks props for Feb. 8.
Maple Leafs vs. Canucks props
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Best bet: Knies over 0.5 points (-130)
The Maple Leafs have their swagger back.
Toronto has scored 13 goals during its three-game winning streak and Knies has contributed to five of them. The 22-year-old winger has scored in each game with two assists mixed in.
He’s now found the stat sheet in five of his last six contests, tallying five goals and nine points.
If you’ve been reading my Maple Leafs picks pieces, you know I’ve been rolling with Knies night in and night out — and he’s been delivering.
Playing on Toronto’s top line alongside Auston Matthews and Max Domi is helpful, but playing on the team’s No. 1 power play is even better.
Knies has three power-play points in his last four games and is a strong net-front presence that makes hay while opponents try to close passing lanes for Matthews and William Nylander.
Canucks fans might point to Thatcher Demko’s recent form as a counter to this wager. He’s allowed one goal over his past two starts and appears to be rounding into form.
But that’s a small sample. Demko has an awful .889 save percentage on the season and ranks 44th in goals saved above expected per 60, according to Money Puck.
And if you want to use another small sample, let me point you to Demko’s last two starts against the Leafs:
- Jan. 1, 2024: 4 goals allowed, .913 SV%
- Nov. 11, 2023: 5 goals allowed, .773 SV%
I think Toronto is going to roll over Vancouver and am also playing Maple Leafs moneyline at -134. At least Canucks fans will have a full night ahead of them afterwards.
Key stat: Knies has eight points in his last five games.
Quick picks
Pettersson under 0.5 points (-106): The Petterson-J.T. Miller saga ended with the latter being shipped to the New York Rangers. And with how the two have performed since, you have to wonder if Vancouver made the right decision.
- Pettersson (4 GP): 0 G, 1 A, 5 SOG
- Miller (4 GP): 2 G, 2 A, 10 SOG
Pettersson has been held pointless in three straight games with just two shots on goal.
He has one goal and four assists since Dec. 23 and is tracking toward a career-worst 55-point pace (excluding his 2020-21 season where he played just 26 games).
I’ll happily fade him tonight.
Picks made at 10:45 a.m. ET on 02/08/2025.
Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.