Data Driven NHL play for Thursday: Toronto Maple Leafs -1½

At Professionalsportspicks we see a future where those handicapping sports without advanced analytics and data-driven strategies will be left behind.

Our data-driven picks use data integration, search and discovery, and knowledge management along with collaboration with our in-house handicappers. By isolating relevant trends, removing human biases, and targeting only lines with a positive expected value above a certain threshold, our data-driven picks promise to outperform any and all human competitors.

Our models suggest that Toronto is worth a look as a home favorite against a tired Winnipeg team that will be playing on zero days rest. The Jets have won five of their last six but were taken to a shootout against Buffalo last night, and they are 4-10 in their last 14 games as a road underdog. Toronto defeated Boston 6-4 on Tuesday. They are 14-6 straight up and 11-7 against the puck line as favorites after scoring five goals in their last game.