Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Toronto Maple Leafs return home, bolstered by the return of Auston Matthews, after their trip to the Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs suffered a heavy defeat against the Panthers(1:5) but bounced back with a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning (5:3). Next up is the Chicago Blackhawks, who are not as straightforward an opponent as they might seem.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Despite the return of their key scorer, the Maple Leafs are still grappling with numerous roster issues. David Kämpf, Max Pacioretty, Bobby McMann, and Max Domi are all sidelined. While this may not seem catastrophic at first glance, Kämpf plays a crucial role in the penalty kill, and Domi ranks in the top six for average ice time (15:17). For the Leafs to consistently achieve results, their top lines need to decisively win their minutes, but that does not always occur.
Chicago Blackhawks
In goal for the Blackhawks, backup Arvid Söderblom is expected to start. Although his appearances this season have been limited, he has been a thorn in the side of favourites. With Söderblom in net, the Blackhawks have defeated the Winnipeg Jets (2:1), Dallas Stars (3:1), and Vancouver Canucks (4:1). As these results show, blowouts have been rare. Across these games, Söderblom made 99 saves, with a season save percentage of 92.6% and a goals-against average of 2.36.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction
The Toronto Maple Leafs find it tough going against the Chicago Blackhawks on their home ice. In their last 10 meetings over 11 years, they have only twice beaten the Blackhawks by two or more goals. Söderblom, in particular, has never lost to the Leafs and conceded just four goals in two matches against them. We're siding with the underdog.
