NHL Prediction: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Toronto Maple Leafs on 08.08.2020

After winning the third match of the series, Columbus will try to strengthen the advantage against Toronto. What is the best bet? Look for the answer in our prediction.

• NHL Prediction: Minnesota Wild – Vancouver Canucks (07/08 North America, 08/08 Europe)

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus never made it into the playoffs and remained in ninth place of the Eastern Conference. However, this does not prevent them from delivering big problems to Toronto. The Jackets have already won two matches (2: 0 and 4: 3 OT) and lost only in the second match – 0: 3.

The previous match turned out to be just great for John Tortorella’s team, as his players recouped from a 0: 3 score and achieved success in the first overtime. By the way, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice in that meeting. Let us remind you that the Jackets conceded two goals during penalty minutes. But after winning the second game, the team has excellent chances of reaching the next round.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs probably did not expect such a turn of events in this series and, in particular, the previous match. The game was entirely under their control, but as soon as they relax, they conceded two goals in the third period and then failed to score a single one. Toronto got burned so many times this season, leading the score and then giving up a lot of space to the opponent, as a result of which they failed.

This is not permissible in the playoffs, so Sheldon Keefe must choose the right words and set the team in the right way so that this does not happen again. We want to emphasize that Auston Matthews remains the key player in the Leafs’ roster at the moment, with the goal and two assists.

Columbus Blue Jackets – Toronto Maple Leafs prediction

The last two out of three matches between the teams were rather boring and ended with a small number of goals. Columbus will probably try to shut out the game again, and Toronto will not play too openly after such a shock in the last match. We are expecting defensive hockey, and therefore we bet on the small match total, and also on the Jackets to win this match since they show themselves well in the series.