Devils vs Maple Leafs Picks and Prediction – 4/11/2024

In a pivotal Eastern Conference clash, the New Jersey Devils (37-37-5, 7th Metropolitan) visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (46-23-9, 3rd Atlantic) at Scotiabank Arena. Coming off a defeat, the Devils aim to rebound against the Maple Leafs, who are eyeing to further improve playoff positioning. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

The Devils, sitting seventh in the Metropolitan Division, come into this game with a loss to Toronto just two days ago. Offensively, New Jersey ranks ninth with 257 goals scored, showcasing players like Jesper Bratt who leads with 25 goals. However, they struggle defensively, ranking 29th with 271 goals allowed. The defensive problems could be further exacerbated by the absence of key players like Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kahkonen due to injuries. 

Additionally, the power play and penalty kill stats sit at 21.9% and 80.5% respectively, indicating a balanced special teams performance. Akira Schmid's goaltending has been less than stellar, with a save percentage of .895 and a goals-against average of 3.15, which may hinder the Devils’ efforts against a high-scoring Toronto team.

Toronto remains a formidable force in the Atlantic, holding the third spot. They boast the third-best goal-scoring stats in the league with 283 goals, aided by William Nylander’s impressive 40 goals. The Maple Leafs defensive game is significantly stronger than New Jersey’s, positioned 14th with 239 goals against. The Leafs will miss Timothy Liljegren and Joel Edmundson, but depth should offset these losses. 

Special teams are a strong point; the power play operates at an efficient 24.2% rate, and despite a lower-ranked penalty kill at 77.8%, they manage to maintain a competitive edge. Ilya Samsonov in goal offers reliability with an .895 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA, along with three shutouts this season.