Toronto Maple Leafs vs Dallas Stars: Game preview, predictions, and odds | December 18, 2024

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the road to play the Dallas Stars on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Toronto (19-10-2) enters the game on the back of a 5-3 win over Buffalo on Sunday. Meanwhile, Dallas (19-11) is coming off a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.

Maple Leafs vs. Stars: Head-to-head & key stats

• Toronto is 103-92-28-1 all-time against Dallas
• The Maple Leafs are averaging 2.96 goals per game
• The Stars are allowing 2.5 goals per game
• Toronto is allowing 2.61 goals per game
• Dallas is averaging 3.23 goals per game
• The Maple Leafs are 5-6-2 on the road
• The Stars are 13-3 at home

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Dallas Stars: Preview

Toronto is coming off a 5-3 win over Buffalo. The Maple Leafs did get bad news as goalie Anthony Stolarz is out for 4 to 6 weeks with an injury. Toronto will now start Joseph Woll, who is 8-4 with a 2.24 GAA and a .918 SV%. In his career against Dallas, Woll is 1-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .969 SV%.

The Maple Leafs are led by Mitch Marner, who has 41 points. William Nylander has 31 points, John Tavares has 28 and Auston Matthews has 21.

Dallas, meanwhile, is coming off a 3-1 win over Washington as the Stars are on a two-game winning streak. Dallas is led by Matt Duchene, who has 30 points, while Mason Marchment has contributed 27 points, Jason Robertson has 21 and Jamie Benn has 19.

The Stars will start Jake Oettinger, who is 16-7 with a 2.32 GAA and a .913 SV%. Oettinger is 0-2 with a 3.07 GAA and a .910 SV% in his career against Toronto.

Maple Leafs vs. Stars: Odds & Prediction

Toronto is a +114 underdog, while Dallas is a -135 favorite, with the over/under set at 5.5 goals.

The Maple Leafs and Stars are two of the best teams in the NHL, so this should be a great game. Toronto will be without Stolarz, who is out with an injury, which is a big blow.

Oettinger is also one of the best goalies in the NHL, and he should be able to limit Toronto's offense to lead the Stars to a big home win here.

Prediction: Stars 3, Maple Leafs 1.

Maple Leafs vs. Stars: Betting Tips

Tip 1: Dallas ML (-135)

Tip 2: Under 5.5 goals (+105)

Tip 3: Wyatt Johnson 3+ shots on goal (-140)