The Toronto Maple Leafs enter their March 30, 2025 road game against the Anaheim Ducks in a much different position than their Western Conference hosts. With a playoff spot in sight and expectations high as always in hockey’s most scrutinized market, the Maple Leafs have built a solid campaign behind their elite offensive core and improved team defense. Currently holding a record of 28-16-10, Toronto remains one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference, blending top-line firepower with better defensive structure under head coach Sheldon Keefe. While the team has struggled at times on the road—covering the spread in just 17 of 35 away games—they remain heavy favorites against a rebuilding Ducks squad and will be aiming to collect two critical points as they jockey for postseason positioning. Toronto’s identity continues to revolve around its potent offense, anchored by superstar center Auston Matthews. A perennial Rocket Richard Trophy contender, Matthews is once again among the league leaders in goals and is thriving alongside playmaker Mitch Marner. Marner’s elite hockey IQ, vision, and two-way play make him indispensable at both ends of the ice, and his chemistry with Matthews has been a constant bright spot for Toronto. William Nylander adds another dangerous dimension on the wing, combining speed and skill with a clutch scoring touch that’s come through in several tight games this season. John Tavares, while no longer in his prime, still delivers as a steady second-line center, contributing in faceoffs, net-front presence, and power play efficiency. The team’s top six forwards can overwhelm opponents when clicking, and that offensive dominance is a clear advantage in matchups against bottom-tier teams like Anaheim. Defensively, the Maple Leafs have shown tangible improvement over previous seasons.

Morgan Rielly leads the blue line both offensively and as a puck-mover in transition. Paired with a more physical presence like Jake McCabe or T.J. Brodie, Rielly is free to jump into the rush while the defense maintains structure. The additions of responsible depth defensemen like Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins have helped stabilize Toronto’s second and third pairings, giving the Leafs more consistency in their own zone. Though not a physical defense in the traditional sense, Toronto excels in puck retrieval and zone exits, which limit time spent defending and keep their high-octane offense on the attack. Goaltending has been another key storyline for Toronto this season. Ilya Samsonov has been their go-to starter, recovering from early-season inconsistency to post a respectable save percentage and string together several strong performances. Joseph Woll, when healthy, has been more than capable as a backup and could push for more starts down the stretch. As a team, the Leafs allow around 2.85 goals per game, which puts them in the upper half of the league defensively—a marked improvement over recent years. Special teams remain a strength for the Leafs. Their power play is consistently ranked in the top five league-wide, operating at nearly 26% efficiency, thanks to the lethal combination of Matthews, Nylander, and Rielly quarterbacking from the point. Their penalty kill is also effective, with Marner and David Kämpf excelling as shorthanded specialists. For Toronto, this matchup represents a must-win game against a non-playoff team. They’ll look to assert control early, dominate possession, and wear down Anaheim’s young roster. With a high-powered offense, improving defense, and solid goaltending, the Leafs are well-positioned to secure a win and continue building momentum heading into the postseason.