Maple Leafs vs Avalanche Prediction, Pick & Odds (Mar 8)

• The Toronto Maple Leafs (38-21-3) visit the Colorado Avalanche (37-24-2) on Saturday Night Hockey
• Colorado has won four straight, while the Leafs have lost back-to-back games
• Read below for Leafs vs Avalanche prediction, odds and prop pick for Saturday’s game on NHL Network

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The surging Colorado Avalanche (37-24-2) seek a fifth-straight win when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs (38-21-3).

Action gets underway from Ball Arena in Denver at 7pm ET, with NHL Network providing broadcast coverage.

The Leafs, who were busy bolstering their roster on Trade Deadline day, have been tabbed as distant +125 underdogs on the moneyline, with the Avalanche in at short -150. A matchup featuring two of the Top 10 teams in scoring, the total is set at 6.5 goals. Can the Leafs shake their own two-game slide as they battle for the Atlantic Division crown?

Here is our Maple Leafs vs Avalanche prediction for Saturday Night Hockey.

Maple Leafs vs Avalanche Prediction

The Avalanche start the day tied for third in the Central Division with the Minnesota Wild at 76 points, which leaves them in the first Wild Card spot in the West.

But they’ve been coming on strong, with a powerful offense overwhelming the last four foes. Colorado dumped the San Jose Sharks last game 7-3, marking the fourth straight game they’ve scored at least four goals.

ANOTHA ONE (x7)#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/3v7mj4ROaB

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 7, 2025

During this run, the Avs have outscored their opponents 21-7.

Toronto, meanwhile, is coming off a 5-2 loss in Las Vegas, two days after the lowly Sharks upended them 3-2 in a shootout.

Perhaps that was the impetus for Toronto, who are battling with both the Panthers and the Lightning for the Atlantic Division crown, to ensure they’re in position to win now.

At the trade deadline, they bolstered their back end picking up D-man Brandon Carlo from Boston and center Scott Laughton from Philadelphia solidifies them up front — all without surrendering any of their regulars. Both are expected to be in the lineup Saturday.

Newest Maple Leafs acquisition Scott Laughton has the NHL's only 4-goal game this season

(Dec. 12 vs Detroit) pic.twitter.com/aLcuRwbnwq

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 7, 2025

Can that help derail the streaking Avs? For your betting purposes, it might not have to. I’m looking at that total, and the teams have lit the lamp regularly in recent head-to-heads.

Colorado and Toronto have combined for at least seven goals in eight of the last 10 meetings. Toronto is one of the few teams in the league with the firepower to keep up with the Avalanche, enough to send this Over.

Maple Leafs vs Avalanche Pick:

• Maple Leafs Over 6.5 goals (-105 at Bet365)

Maple Leafs vs Avalanche Odds

Odds as of March 8, 2025 at Bet365 Sportsbook. Browse the available NHL betting apps for Saturday’s games.

Colorado’s -150 moneyline odds means that a $150 wager would net you a profit of $100. On the other end, a pick for Toronto to upset the Avs would land you $125 profit on a $100 bet. The Leafs are 5-2-2 against Colorado over the last nine.

If you’re playing the puck line, Toronto is listed at +1.5 (-200). Taking the Leafs here means you’re taking Toronto to win outright or lose by a goal, but there’s little juice on that wager: you’d have to bet $200 to win $100. Colorado to win by two goals is riskier, but offers a substantially better return vs the moneyline.

The total (over/under) for this game is set at 6.5 goals, paying at -105 for the Over, and -115 for the Under.

Maple Leafs vs Avalanche Player Prop Pick

Nathan MacKinnon – Over 1.5 points (+125 at Bet365)

It’s probably not a reach to target NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon when picking my favorite player prop.

The easiest goal of Nathan MacKinnon's career. pic.twitter.com/ULbOFrxCoe

— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) March 7, 2025

He’s been on fire of late, coming off a 2-goal, 5-point night against the Sharks. During Colorado’s win 4-game win streak, MacKinnon has put up four goal and 11 points, with multi-point efforts in three of those games.

The Colorado star is getting pretty good juice for another 2+ point outing against Toronto, a team he’s picked up points against in seven of the last eight matchups.