The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena. The puck will be dropped at 7:30 p.m. ET (Sportsnet/ESPN+).

Auston Matthews has heated up in January, scoring eight times in nine games. The Maple Leafs sniper looks to extend his hot streak as the Leafs look to win their fourth straight game as big favorites.

Our predictions for the Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs matchup, as well as player betting odds, say that the trio of forwards, including Matthews, will shine.

Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs prediction for today
Odds at the top NHL betting sites; rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Kirill Marchenko Over 2.5 shots on goal (-134 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mitch Marner More than 1.5 assists (+200 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Auston Matthews to score first goal (+550 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best player predictions for Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs
Kirill Marchenko Over 2.5 shots on goal (-134 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Since Columbus is having trouble picking up points (one goal in the last two games and two or less in four of the last five), I expect the team's leader in goals to try to put more shots on goal tonight. Marchenko has done just that in recent meetings with the Leafs, putting at least three shots on goal in four of the last five games, including seven in the teams' October encounter.

Even though the Leafs have won three straight games, they aren't exactly playing shutdown hockey. They have allowed at least three pucks in six straight games.

In addition, Toronto has shown a penchant for taking a lot of shots on opponents' top scorers: they've put at least five shots on goal on Cole Cofield, Nikita Kucherov, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes in the last week.

Best odds: -134 at Betway | Estimated odds: 57.3%

Mitch Marner More than 1.5 assists (+200 via Betway) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Toronto's leading forward has added to his game without John Tavares, contributing two assists in each of the Leafs' three games since Tavares' injury. After 14 assists in Toronto's first 10 games in January, Marner ranks second in the NHL in apples, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon.

Marner has also been much more productive at home (41 points in 28 games) than away (26 in 20) this season. He's also been performing well in recent meetings with the Blue Jackets, scoring multiple points in six of the last eight games against Columbus.

Odds are +130 that Marner will score a lot of points again tonight, but I prefer odds of +200 on more than 1.5 assists. Thirty of Marner's last 36 points have been scored with assists.

Best odds: +200 via Betway | Odds: 33.3%.

Auston Matthews is the ⭐⭐⭐⭐'s first goal scorer
After scoring just 11 goals in the first three months of the season, Matthews has turned things around.

Matthews is the clear favorite for the First Scorer award, and for good reason. The Toronto sniper is on his hottest streak of the season, scoring eight goals in nine games since returning from an upper-body injury.

He also has a knack for getting the job done early. Matthews opened the scoring in Monday's 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking the 67th time he has scored his first goal since joining the league in 2016. In that time, only David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins has scored the first goal in a game more often.

If you prefer to play it a little safer, Betway has a great bet on Matthews' goal anytime tonight (-120).

Best odds: +550 via Betway | Suggested odds: 15.4%.

Odds for the Blue Jackets vs Maple Leafs game
Betway odds.

Information about the Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs game.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 22
Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto)
How to watch: Sportsnet/ESPN+
Favorite: Maple Leafs -215 (via Betway)