The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a thrilling first game of the season when they take on the New Jersey Devils on October 10, 2024. This matchup is going to be particularly exciting for the Maple Leafs. At the beginning of the year, the Leafs seek to establish themselves as the dominant team. They are headed by the star forward Auston Matthews, who scored 69 goals in the previous season. The fact that they have an average of 3.6 goals scored per game, which places them in third place in the Eastern Conference, is evidence of their attacking strength. Despite this, their defence has been proven to be susceptible to weaknesses, as they have allowed an average of 3.2 goals per game. During this time, the Devils have gotten off to a fantastic start with a record of 2-0. This success may be attributed to the talents of Timo Meier, who scored 28 goals in the previous football season. The defence of the Leafs may have difficulties due to the Devils’ well-rounded offence and Jake Allen’s good goaltending (0.900 SV %) against them.
Regarding the dynamics of the game, the Maple Leafs will try to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and their propensity to score many goals against a Devils club that relies on rapid transitions and good forechecking. Because Toronto has triumphed against New Jersey in four of their most recent five matches, the historical background is favorable to Toronto. It is a good idea to bet on Toronto to cover a -1.5-point spread, given the importance of this being the first game of the season for the Maple Leafs and the fact that they need to have a promising start. The depth and experience of their offensive unit should allow them to achieve a victory against a Devils team that is competitive but has less experience than they do.