Islanders vs Maple Leafs Picks and Prediction – 12/22/2024

This Saturday, Mat Barzal and the New York Islanders will travel to Scotiabank Arena to face Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Eastern Conference matchup. Get our free NHL Picks all season long! The Islanders enter the game with a 12-14-7 record, looking to recover from a tough 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Barzal continues to lead New York with his playmaking ability and speed, but the Islanders have struggled to generate consistent offense this season.

For New York to have a chance against Toronto, Barzal will need to spark the offense while the defense steps up to contain one of the league’s most dangerous scoring teams. Improving their special teams and capitalizing on scoring opportunities will be critical for the Islanders.

The Maple Leafs, holding a strong 21-10-2 record, are coming off a dominant 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Matthews has been phenomenal for Toronto, combining his elite goal-scoring ability and two-way play to keep the Leafs among the league’s elite. Supported by Mitch Marner and William Nylander, Matthews leads a Toronto team firing on all cylinders offensively.

For Toronto, maintaining their offensive tempo and pressuring New York’s defense will be key. The Maple Leafs will also look to take advantage of power-play opportunities to keep the Islanders on their heels.

This game highlights Barzal’s playmaking for New York against Matthews’ scoring ability for Toronto. While the Islanders have the potential to make it competitive, the Maple Leafs’ depth, recent momentum, and home-ice advantage could prove too much. Despite being on a back-to-back, take the Maple Leafs to cover the puck line. Final Score Prediction,Toronto Maple Leafs win 5-2.