It's a potential playoff preview on Monday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Toronto and Tampa Bay are both coming off strong victories on Saturday night. The Lightning dominated Detroit from that start, cruising to a 5-1 victory. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, rallied from a 3-0 first period deficit in Montreal to score seven unanswered goals in a 7-3 win.
This game is sitting as a pick’em on the NHL odds, with the total pegged at 6.0.
Lightning vs. Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds
This is the third of four regular season meetings between the teams this year. Toronto won both previous games, 5-2 at home in late October and 5-3 on the road in late November.
The Eastern Conference standings are incredibly tight at the moment, so anything can change, but at the moment there’s a real possibility these teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs. They’ve met in the first round in two of the last three years, with Tampa winning in seven games in 2022 and Toronto winning in six in 2023.
One concern for the Lightning right now is their recent play on the road as they have dropped five of their last six games outside of Tampa Bay. That suits the Buds just fine as they’ve won seven of their last 10 games overall and seven of their last eight against Eastern Conference opponents.
Both teams have been strong against the spread this season. Tampa is 24-20 ATS, including 12-10 ATS on the road. Toronto is 25-22 ATS, including 14-13 ATS at home.
While lower scoring games have been a trend for each team this year, they generally combine to produce higher scoring games in head-to-head action. Four of the last five head-to-heads have hit the Over, including both previous meeting this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel led the way for the Bolts over Detroit on Saturday, with each player recording a goal and two assists. Kucherov is now up to third in NHL scoring with 68 points (21G, 47A) in 42 games. Darren Raddysh, Mitchell Chaffee and Brayden Point also scored. Point is now second in the NHL with 27 goals on the year. Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 39 of 40 shots faced.
Vasilevskiy is the likely starter against Toronto. He’s coming off one of his strongest performances of the year as Saturday’s game was just the second time this season he has faced at least 40 shots. Through eight appearances in January, Vasilevskiy is 4-3-1 while stopping 212 of 230 shots faced (.922 save percentage).
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto used seven different goal scorers to get past Montreal on Saturday, including some of the big guns in Auston Matthews and William Nylander. The Leafs were completely outplayed in the first period and they didn’t take the lead until early in the third. Matthews actually completed a goalscoring feat that was new to him as he notched his first career NHL short-handed goal. Toronto’s captain has scored in three straight games and seven of his last 10.
Joseph Woll was spectacular over the last two periods in Montreal, including a couple of diving saves in the third that kept the Leafs’ lead alive. If Woll starts his 24th game of the season on Monday, which is expected, it will mark a new career-high. He’s been hot lately, winning his last two games while stopping 53 of 59 shots faced in that span. Overall, Woll has a 16-8-0 record with a 2.68 goals-against average, .907 SV and one shutout.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Maple Leafs?
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LIGHTNING
5 -
MAPLE LEAFS
3
Score
Prediction
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 19 Jan 5:53pm | - | - | O +6 -120 |
Closing 21 Jan 2:53am | - | - | O +6.5 -225 |
- Regular Season
Lightning Team Leaders
Points |
82 |
+ / - |
31 |
Shots |
179 |
Penalty Mins |
76 |
Wins |
25 |
GAA |
2.32 |
Points |
71 |
+ / - |
17 |
Shots |
186 |
Penalty Mins |
40 |
Wins |
19 |
GAA |
2.08 |
- Regular Season
Maple Leafs Team Leaders
Points |
82 |
+ / - |
31 |
Shots |
179 |
Penalty Mins |
76 |
Wins |
25 |
GAA |
2.32 |
Points |
71 |
+ / - |
17 |
Shots |
186 |
Penalty Mins |
40 |
Wins |
19 |
GAA |
2.08 |
Injuries
Nikita Kucherov (RW)
Nick Paul (LW)
Conor Geekie (C)
Jonas Johansson (G)
Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)
Emil Lilleberg (D)
Mikhail Sergachev (D)
Erik Cernak (D)
Ryan McDonagh (D)
Michael Eyssimont (C)
Conor Timmins (D)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Matthew Knies (LW)
Connor Dewar (C)
Max Pacioretty (LW)
John Tavares (C)
Jake McCabe (D)
Pontus Holmberg (RW)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Anthony Stolarz (G)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nikita Kucherov (RW) | Ques Feb 23 | Upper Body - 09 / 02 / 25 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
Kucherov is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active against the Kraken on February 23rd. |
|||||
Nick Paul (LW) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 05 / 02 / 25 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Paul left the last match due to an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will be active against the Senators on Thursday. |
|||||
Conor Geekie (C) | Ques Tues | Arm - 02 / 02 / 25 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
Geekie suffered an injury to his arm, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Senators on Tuesday. |
|||||
Jonas Johansson (G) | Ques Feb 23 | Lower Body - 30 / 01 / 25 | 2-3 | 2-3 | + - |
Johansson is battling a lower body injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Kraken on February 23rd. |
|||||
Andrei Vasilevskiy (G) | Ques Thurs | Illness - 28 / 01 / 25 | 2-4 | 2-4 | + - |
Vasilevskiy is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Kings on Thursday. |
|||||
Emil Lilleberg (D) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 27 / 01 / 25 | 2-4 | 2-4 | + - |
Lilleberg has been suspended, and it has yet to be determined if he will play against the Islanders on Saturday. |
|||||
Mikhail Sergachev (D) | Ques wed | Upper Body - 18 / 01 / 25 | 3-8 | 5-5-1 | + - |
Sergachev is dealing with an upper body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Penguins on Wednesday. |
|||||
Erik Cernak (D) | Prob Sat | Undisclosed - 17 / 01 / 25 | 3-8 | 5-5-1 | + - |
Cernak missed the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury, and he is anticipated to be available against the Red Wings on Saturday. |
|||||
Ryan McDonagh (D) | Ques Thurs | Face - 15 / 01 / 25 | 3-9 | 6-5-1 | + - |
McDonagh exited the matchup with a face injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Ducks on Thursday. |
|||||
Michael Eyssimont (C) | Ques Sun | Lower Body - 27 / 12 / 24 | 10-12 | 9-12-1 | + - |
Eyssimont suffered a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Canadiens on Sunday. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conor Timmins (D) | Ques Feb 22nd | Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25 | 3-0 | 2-1 | + - |
Timmins suffered an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Saturday's clash against the Hurricanes on February 22nd. |
|||||
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) | Ques Thurs | Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25 | 3-1 | 2-2 | + - |
Ekman-Larsson missed the previous game with a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Kraken on Thursday. |
|||||
Matthew Knies (LW) | Prob Sat | Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25 | 4-3 | 3-4 | + - |
Knies is nursing an upper-body injury, but he is likely to be active against the Oilers on Saturday. |
|||||
Connor Dewar (C) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25 | 5-3 | 4-4 | + - |
Dewar has landed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery. |
|||||
Max Pacioretty (LW) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25 | 5-3 | 4-4 | + - |
Pacioretty has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
John Tavares (C) | Prob Sat | Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25 | 6-4 | 5-5 | + - |
Tavares is dealing with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be available against the Oilers on Saturday. |
|||||
Jake McCabe (D) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25 | 6-8 | 6-8 | + - |
McCabe has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
Pontus Holmberg (RW) | Ques Thurs | Illness - 31 / 12 / 24 | 8-10 | 8-10 | + - |
Holmberg is dealing with an illness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Thursday's clash versus the Hurricanes. |
|||||
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) | Ques Thurs | Illness - 31 / 12 / 24 | 8-10 | 8-10 | + - |
Ekman-Larsson is dealing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Islanders on Thursday. |
|||||
Anthony Stolarz (G) | Prob Thurs | Knee - 12 / 12 / 24 | 13-14 | 14-12-1 | + - |
Stolarz has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from a knee injury, and it is expected that he will return to the lineup Thursday versus the Kraken. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 19 Jan 5:53pm - - O +6 -120 Closing 21 Jan 2:53am - - O +6.5 -225 -
- Regular Season
Lightning Team Leaders
Points 82
+ / - 31
Shots 179
Penalty Mins 76
Wins 25
GAA 2.32
Points 71
+ / - 17
Shots 186
Penalty Mins 40
Wins 19
GAA 2.08
-
- Regular Season
Maple Leafs Team Leaders
Points 82
+ / - 31
Shots 179
Penalty Mins 76
Wins 25
GAA 2.32
Points 71
+ / - 17
Shots 186
Penalty Mins 40
Wins 19
GAA 2.08
-
Injuries
Nikita Kucherov (RW)
Ques Feb 23 Upper Body - 09 / 02 / 25Nick Paul (LW)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 05 / 02 / 25Conor Geekie (C)
Ques Tues Arm - 02 / 02 / 25Jonas Johansson (G)
Ques Feb 23 Lower Body - 30 / 01 / 25Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)
Ques Thurs Illness - 28 / 01 / 25Emil Lilleberg (D)
Ques Sat Suspension - 27 / 01 / 25Mikhail Sergachev (D)
Ques wed Upper Body - 18 / 01 / 25Erik Cernak (D)
Prob Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 01 / 25Ryan McDonagh (D)
Ques Thurs Face - 15 / 01 / 25Michael Eyssimont (C)
Ques Sun Lower Body - 27 / 12 / 24Conor Timmins (D)
Ques Feb 22nd Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Ques Thurs Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25Matthew Knies (LW)
Prob Sat Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25Connor Dewar (C)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25Max Pacioretty (LW)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25John Tavares (C)
Prob Sat Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25Jake McCabe (D)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25Pontus Holmberg (RW)
Ques Thurs Illness - 31 / 12 / 24Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Ques Thurs Illness - 31 / 12 / 24Anthony Stolarz (G)
Prob Thurs Knee - 12 / 12 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Nikita Kucherov (RW) Ques Feb 23 Upper Body - 09 / 02 / 25 0-0 0-0 + - Kucherov is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active against the Kraken on February 23rd.
Nick Paul (LW) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 05 / 02 / 25 1-1 2-0 + - Paul left the last match due to an undisclosed injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will be active against the Senators on Thursday.
Conor Geekie (C) Ques Tues Arm - 02 / 02 / 25 1-2 2-1 + - Geekie suffered an injury to his arm, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Senators on Tuesday.
Jonas Johansson (G) Ques Feb 23 Lower Body - 30 / 01 / 25 2-3 2-3 + - Johansson is battling a lower body injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Kraken on February 23rd.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (G) Ques Thurs Illness - 28 / 01 / 25 2-4 2-4 + - Vasilevskiy is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Kings on Thursday.
Emil Lilleberg (D) Ques Sat Suspension - 27 / 01 / 25 2-4 2-4 + - Lilleberg has been suspended, and it has yet to be determined if he will play against the Islanders on Saturday.
Mikhail Sergachev (D) Ques wed Upper Body - 18 / 01 / 25 3-8 5-5-1 + - Sergachev is dealing with an upper body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Penguins on Wednesday.
Erik Cernak (D) Prob Sat Undisclosed - 17 / 01 / 25 3-8 5-5-1 + - Cernak missed the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury, and he is anticipated to be available against the Red Wings on Saturday.
Ryan McDonagh (D) Ques Thurs Face - 15 / 01 / 25 3-9 6-5-1 + - McDonagh exited the matchup with a face injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Ducks on Thursday.
Michael Eyssimont (C) Ques Sun Lower Body - 27 / 12 / 24 10-12 9-12-1 + - Eyssimont suffered a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Canadiens on Sunday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Conor Timmins (D) Ques Feb 22nd Upper Body - 05 / 02 / 25 3-0 2-1 + - Timmins suffered an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Saturday's clash against the Hurricanes on February 22nd.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) Ques Thurs Lower Body - 01 / 02 / 25 3-1 2-2 + - Ekman-Larsson missed the previous game with a lower body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Kraken on Thursday.
Matthew Knies (LW) Prob Sat Upper Body - 23 / 01 / 25 4-3 3-4 + - Knies is nursing an upper-body injury, but he is likely to be active against the Oilers on Saturday.
Connor Dewar (C) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 21 / 01 / 25 5-3 4-4 + - Dewar has landed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery.
Max Pacioretty (LW) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 20 / 01 / 25 5-3 4-4 + - Pacioretty has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
John Tavares (C) Prob Sat Lower Body - 15 / 01 / 25 6-4 5-5 + - Tavares is dealing with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be available against the Oilers on Saturday.
Jake McCabe (D) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 06 / 01 / 25 6-8 6-8 + - McCabe has wound up on the injured reserve list due to an upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Pontus Holmberg (RW) Ques Thurs Illness - 31 / 12 / 24 8-10 8-10 + - Holmberg is dealing with an illness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Thursday's clash versus the Hurricanes.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D) Ques Thurs Illness - 31 / 12 / 24 8-10 8-10 + - Ekman-Larsson is dealing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Islanders on Thursday.
Anthony Stolarz (G) Prob Thurs Knee - 12 / 12 / 24 13-14 14-12-1 + - Stolarz has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from a knee injury, and it is expected that he will return to the lineup Thursday versus the Kraken.