Sharks vs. Maple Leafs NHL Picks: Toronto Looks To Hand San Jose First Loss

The San Jose Sharks are undefeated through three games this season, but they face their toughest test yet in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Check out who our experts back in this interconference matchup.

San Jose is one of the early surprises of this young season, while Toronto is still finding its legs. The Sharks (3-0 straight up, 1-2 Over/Under) are one of seven remaining undefeated teams while the Leafs (2-2 SU, 0-4 O/U) have been up and down. That could change Friday night in Toronto.

Here are my picks and predictions for Friday’s NHL matchup between the Sharks and the Maple Leafs (Odds via BetMGM Sportsbook).

Sharks vs. Maple Leafs Game Info

Date/Time: Friday, October 22, 6 p.m. ETTV: TSN4, NBC Sports CaliforniaLocation: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Sharks vs. Maple Leafs Odds Analysis

Although the Sharks are undefeated, they are huge underdogs at +195 on the moneyline and +1.5 (-125) on the puck line. The Maple Leafs come in as the home favorites at -238 on the moneyline and -1.5 (+105) on the puck line.

The line opened with the Maple Leafs as -175 favorites and has shifted heavily in their favor.

The total for the game is set at six goals, with the Over at -120 and Under at -100.

Sharks vs. Maple Leafs Picks

Maple Leafs (-238)Under 6 (-100)Sharks Under 2.5 goals (-133)

Sharks vs. Maple Leafs Predictions

Maple Leafs (-238)

This is a lot of juice for the Maple Leafs, but it's still a very safe pick. The puck line of -1.5 (+105) and Leafs to win in regulation (-154) are worth a look if you don't want to lay the -238 juice.

The Maple Leafs are 2-0-1 at home so far this season with their lone loss coming last time out when they outshot the Rangers 41-23 on Monday. They've had three days off and should be locked and loaded for this one.

The Sharks will be playing the second half of a back-to-back set after a 2-1 win in Ottawa on Thursday night. They played 10 back-to-backs last season and won the second end on just two occasions.

It's also the Sharks' third game in four nights, a situation that they've struggled in. San Jose has won just five of its last 30 in a three-games-in-four-nights situation. It's tough on any team, even more so early in the season. The Leafs should be able to take advantage.

Under 6.5 (-100)

The Leafs have scored eight goals and allowed seven in their four games. The Sharks have been a bit higher scoring with 11 goals for but they've allowed just four goals in three games. Mind you, nearly half of San Jose's goals came in a 5-0 win in Montreal. The Leafs are a much better team than the Canadiens in all facets of the game.

As mentioned, the Sharks struggled in the second half of back-to-back sets last season. In their 10 games, they scored two or fewer goals in six of them and three goals on three occasions. Only once did they score four goals.

All signs point to a Leafs victory with a final score in the area of 4-1 or 4-2 at most.

Sharks Under 2.5 goals (-133)

The Sharks only scored two goals on Thursday night in Ottawa and, as mentioned, scored two or fewer goals in six of 10 in the second half of a back-to-back last season.

The Leafs have allowed more than two goals once this season, a 3-2 loss to Ottawa in the second half of a back-to-back set.

A fully-rested Leafs team should be all over a tired Sharks club.

Picks made on 10/22/2021 at 1:50 a.m. ET.