The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 5, 2025, in a matchup that pits two teams with very different priorities. The Maple Leafs, at 44-25-4, are in a dogfight for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, aiming to finish strong and secure home-ice advantage for the first round. For Columbus, sitting at 33-30-9, the playoff door hasn’t completely slammed shut, but it’s hanging by a hinge. Their current form and overall record suggest a team that’s far more likely to play spoiler than to surge into a postseason berth. That dynamic creates an interesting subplot: Toronto needs to win games like this — against lower-ranked, inconsistent teams — if they’re serious about making a legitimate run. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, will be looking to punch above their weight class and prove they can spoil a contender’s rhythm. Recent betting trends slightly favor Toronto, who have gone 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while Columbus has stumbled to a 1-4 ATS mark. With the Maple Leafs also riding a wave of offensive production and a league-leading power play, the conditions are ripe for Toronto to assert control — but this is the NHL, and nothing is guaranteed. Toronto’s offense has been electric this season, averaging 3.66 goals per game — one of the highest marks in the league. They’ve leaned heavily on their top-six forwards, with William Nylander leading the charge at 79 points (42 goals, 37 assists) and Auston Matthews not far behind. Their power play is particularly lethal, operating at 30.1%, which is almost absurd in modern NHL terms.

Any undisciplined play by the Blue Jackets could quickly turn into a scoreboard avalanche, as Toronto’s puck movement and quick-release shooting from the point and half-wall have made them deadly with the man advantage. Defensively, the Leafs are more well-rounded than in years past, allowing only 2.38 goals per game. That stat is partly a credit to improved defensive zone play but also to stable goaltending that’s kept them in games when their high-flying offense cools off. On home ice, the Maple Leafs have typically played with confidence and control, rarely letting weaker teams steal momentum. If they bring that focus and don’t get caught looking ahead on the schedule, they should be in full command of this matchup. Columbus, by contrast, has struggled with inconsistency in both zones. Offensively, they’re producing just 2.75 goals per game, which places them in the bottom tier of NHL scoring. Patrik Laine has been in and out of the lineup, and while players like Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner offer moments of brilliance, the Blue Jackets have had trouble sustaining pressure or finishing chances. Their power play sits at a modest 18.5%, which is serviceable but not intimidating. Defensively, the picture is even grimmer — they’ve allowed 3.12 goals per game, often giving up prime scoring chances due to defensive breakdowns or poor neutral zone coverage. Their penalty kill at 79.3% isn’t a disaster, but it’s not good enough to hold up against Toronto’s elite man advantage. If Columbus wants to have any shot at an upset, they’ll need to slow the game down, keep puck possession simple, and rely on above-average goaltending to steal one on the road. But make no mistake — they’re stepping into a lion’s den, and they’ll need every bit of luck, discipline, and execution they can muster to avoid being blown out by a Leafs team that smells blood in the standings.