Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions April 5th 2025

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets April 5th 2025

Planning on watching today’s Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs game? Catch the action at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, as the Maple Leafs hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this Eastern conference game currently have the Maple Leafs as the -1.5 goal favorite with the over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals.

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Columbus vs. Toronto Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs
• Where: Scotiabank Arena Toronto
• Date: Saturday, April 5th
• Betting Odds TOR -199 | CBJ +169 O/U 6.5

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

Columbus fell to 34-31-9 after a 7-2 road loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Defensively, Columbus struggled from the start, giving up five goals in the first period. Damon Severson scored their first goal at 19:11 in the second period, but the game was already out of reach by then.

Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second.

Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and did not score on the power play. Adam Fantilli picked up his 4th assist on Severson’s goal, and Sean Monahan earned his 5th assist on Labanc’s goal.

Columbus’s defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period, including two in the first 1:42. Daniil Tarasov finished with a 68.2% save percentage, making 15 saves. The Blue Jackets also had 10 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Through their last three regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 1-2. This also includes going 2-1 ATS, and posting an over-under record of 2-1.
• Columbus has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 5-5 and an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Maple Leafs Can Win If…

Toronto fell to 46-25-4 after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. The Maple Leafs trailed early, with Minnesota scoring at 9:41 in the first period, but William Nylander tied it up with a goal at 19:08 in the first. The game stayed level until the Wild scored the winner at 2:14 in overtime.

The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. Toronto, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. All the scoring happened in the first period, with Nylander’s goal coming on the power play.

William Nylander netted his 9th goal of the season for Toronto, with his latest coming on a power play at 19:08 in the first period. Auston Matthews picked up his 6th assist, while Mitchell Marner added his 12th.

Toronto fired 28 shots on goal but was held scoreless after Nylander’s early strike. The Maple Leafs struggled with giveaways, tallying 10 in the game.

Toronto’s defense gave up the first goal at 9:41 in the first period and the game-winner 2:14 into overtime. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves with a 93.9% save percentage, while the defense added 2 takeaways and 30 hits.

• Spanning across their last three games, Toronto have gone 3-0. But, they did not perform well vs the puck line in these games, going 1-2. Their over-under record in these matchups was 0-3.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Toronto has a record of 7-3. In these contests, the team went just 5-5 against the spread, while going 5-4-1 on the over-under.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline bet in this game, our analysis leans towards the Maple Leafs picking up the win. However, given the current odds of -199, I’d advise going with the puck line, as our predictions have the Maple Leafs coming out on top by more than one goal.

For a puck line prediction, our preference is the Maple Leafs to secure a win and cover. Anticipate the Maple Leafs to win this one by multiple goals over the Blue Jackets.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will remain below that figure, and we recommend wagering on the under.

Columbus Seeks Bounce-Back After Costly Collapse

With the playoff clock ticking, the Columbus Blue Jackets hit the road for a must-win game Saturday night against the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs.

Columbus (34-31-9, 77 points) enters the contest four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, with a game in hand. But Thursday’s 7-3 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche was a step in the wrong direction — especially after the Blue Jackets squandered a 3-2 second-period lead.

“We just can’t shoot ourselves in key situations,” head coach Dean Evason said, referencing the game-turning goal by Colorado’s Charlie Coyle midway through the second. “We do something uncharacteristic and it ends up in our net, flipping the momentum.”

Forward Sean Monahan, who scored his 17th goal of the season, echoed the disappointment. “We kind of did it to ourselves. We gave them looks they probably shouldn’t have had,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, and we’ve got to bounce back.”

Columbus captain Boone Jenner said the group remains focused heading into a crucial weekend stretch. “We have lots of belief in this group. We’ve got a huge back-to-back coming up — huge points for us,” he said. After Saturday’s clash in Toronto, the Blue Jackets visit the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.

Leafs Riding Momentum Into Home Clash

Toronto (46-25-4, 96 points) clinched a playoff berth and tightened its grip atop the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs now lead Tampa Bay by three points and Florida by four heading into the weekend.

The Leafs’ consistent play and evolving style under head coach Craig Berube have paid off down the stretch. “The team has done a really good job of changing our style of play and adapting to it over time,” Berube said. “They’ve figured it out in different areas of the game — scoring, defending, special teams.”

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz was instrumental in the clinching win, stopping 29 shots against his former team for his fourth straight victory.

Toronto’s commitment to a two-way game was exemplified by Mitch Marner, who notched a goal and an assist, along with a key defensive play in the closing moments to preserve the win. “Our big guys, they’re not just there to score,” Berube said. “They’re there to play 200-foot hockey.”

Toronto will be without defenseman Jake McCabe and forward David Kampf, both ruled out Saturday and listed day-to-day.

The Maple Leafs have a challenging schedule ahead, including road dates at Florida and Tampa Bay next week. While first place is in reach, Berube stressed staying grounded. “We’re just going to focus on Columbus on Saturday night,” he said. “First place in our division would be great, but that’s a ways off yet.”

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NHL Betting Insight

With playoff implications for both sides and contrasting momentum, Saturday’s matchup offers intriguing value for NHL Betting Picks. Columbus enters with urgency, while Toronto looks to keep rolling and fine-tune for the postseason.