A slow day in the NHL on Sunday, January 29, will be concluded with this conference tilt in Toronto, and here you can read the best Capitals vs. Maple Leafs betting pick and odds.

Washington will open a three-game road trip when they visit Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs are -149 moneyline favorites on BetOnline Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6 goals. These conference rivals have met on two occasions this year, and the series is tied at 1-1.

Capitals beat the Penguins in the shootout

The Washington Capitals (26-19-4-2, 26-25 ATS) are not playing well at the moment, but they managed to avoid the third defeat in a row with a tight 3-2 home win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the shootout. The Capitals returned home from a three-game road trip on which they suffered a couple of defeats, but following this win against Pittsburgh, they will hit the road again for a three-game stay. Washington now has 58 points, ten behind Toronto.

Alexander Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson scored for the Capitals in regulation against the Penguins, and when the game went to the shootout, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom were accurate enough to give Washington two points. Darcy Kuemper was very good at the goal as he stopped 35 of 37 shots. So far this year, Alexander Ovechkin leads the Capitals with 54 points (G 32, A 22), while Evgeny Kuznetsov is the team’s second star with 41 points (G 6, A 35).

Darcy Kuemper (15-13-4) is slated to start between the sticks against Toronto on Sunday. The 32-year-old is surrendering 2.54 goals per game this season along with .917 SV% and league-best five shutouts.

D John Carlson (facial), LW Carl Hagelin (hip), RW Connor Brown (lower body), and C Nic Dowd (lower body) are out indefinitely. RW Tom Wilson (knee) is questionable to face Toronto on Sunday.

Maple Leafs’ defense was a mess against Ottawa

The Toronto Maple Leafs (30-12-7-1, 20-30 ATS) opened their five-game home stand with a couple of wins against the Islanders and Rangers but couldn’t make it three in a row as the Ottawa Senators were unstoppable. The Maple Leafs conceded a season-high six goals in a 6-2 loss to the Senators, which is uncharacteristic for one of the best defenses in the NHL. It was only the third time this season that Toronto allowed more than five goals.

Joey Anderson and William Nylander scored for Toronto and the Leafs had a 2-2 result at one moment, but the Senators scored four unanswered to celebrate a big victory. This season, the Maple Leafs have four players among the top 40 in the NHL. William Nylander (G 27, A 31) and Mitchell Marner (G 18, A 40) lead them with 58 points apiece; Auston Matthews has 53 (G 25, A 28), while John Tavares registered 49 points (G 21, A 28).

Matt Murray (11-5-2) is expected to start at the goal against the capitals on Sunday. The 28-year-old is allowing 2.73 goals per contest this year with a .911 SV% and one shutout.

D T.J. Brodie (ribs), D Jake Muzzin (neck), and C Auston Matthews (knee) are out indefinitely and will not play against the Capitals on Sunday.

Trends:

Washington:

  • 0-5 in the last five after allowing two goals or less in their previous game
  • 0-6 in the last six games following a win
  • 0-4 in the last four games playing on two days of rest

Toronto:

  • 8-3 in the last 11 after scoring two goals or less in their previous game
  • 5-1 in the last six after allowing five goals or more in their previous game
  • 24-6 in the last 30 vs. Metropolitan Division rivals

Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Pick

We don’t see the Maple Leafs allow six goals in a game as they did against Ottawa, and I am pretty sure they will bounce back on Sunday. The Leafs are playing without Auston Matthews but their offense is still slightly better than Washington’s. William Nylander and Mitchell Marner are playing well and I am backing them to lead Toronto to a win against the Capitals. Toronto won six of the previous seven home games and beat the Capitals in the last two H2H duels at Scotiabank Arena.

Pick: Take the Maple Leafs to win (-149)

The Total

I expect the hosts to display a much better defensive performance after a disappointing loss to Ottawa, but I also don’t think they will erupt offensively against Washington, who has a top-10 defense that allows 2.78 goals per game. Toronto’s D is slightly stronger as it allows 2.66 gpg, so it would be surprising if these rivals combine for more than six goals here. Under is 3-1-1 in the Capitals’ last five games overall, while Under is 4-1 in the Maple Leafs’ previous five vs. a team with a winning record.

Pick: Go Under 6 goals (-110)