Partner Content Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets prop picks: Back ...

The all-star break and coinciding bye week are over, as the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the road to face the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.

The pregame narrative: Mitch Marner should continue to make the most of his man-advantage opportunities, while Patrik Laine could meet his match against the shot-suppressing Maple Leafs. We’re also fading Michael Bunting amid a stretch of several scoreless games.

Check out our Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets prop picks for February 10.

Odds as of 10:45 a.m. on 02/10/2023.

Best Bet : Marner 1+ power play points (+120)

Columbus has had one of the league’s worst penalty kill units in recent months, and we think Toronto’s power play can take advantage. Specifically, we believe Marner can capitalize on the top unit.

Here’s how the Blue Jackets have fared when down a man since the start of December (NHL ranks in parentheses):

Toronto scores on 25.0% of its power play chances (sixth in the NHL), and that is largely thanks to its top special teams unit. Marner is a key component of that, which is why we like this price for him tonight.

Among 144 skaters with 120-plus power play minutes this season, Marner ranks 39th in average time per game (3:46) and 13th in points per 60 (7.6). His PP points per 60 rate is the highest on the Maple Leafs.

Key stat: Marner has at least one power play point in 10 of his past 15 games.

Bunting under 0.5 points (-104): We’d love to blame Bunting’s scoring slump on the absence of his pal Auston Matthews, but in reality, this cold streak spans much further back.

Bunting has been held without a point in two of three games without Matthews, as well as 11 of his past 14 games overall.

He managed three multi-point outings in that span, mind you, but the inconsistency is something we’re willing to tap into at a good price.

Laine under 2.5 shots (+152): We’re reaching for a bit of value here because the matchup feels right.

Columbus is a light-shooting team that has tallied just 28.0 shots per 60 since Dec. 1 (28th in the NHL). In the same span, Toronto has allowed just 28.4 shots per 60 (fifth in the NHL).

Although Laine has averaged about 3.5 shots per game this year and cleared this total more often than not, Toronto could be the squad to slow him down. Also, Laine has fallen under this mark in nine of his past 17 games.