Lightning vs. Maple Leafs Prediction: NHL Betting Odds
It’s the home regular-season finale for the Leafs, who are locked into third place in the Atlantic Division and will open the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the rival Boston Bruins. So, might the Leafs rest many of their key players in the season’s final two games?
Tampa Bay clinched the Presidents’ Trophy weeks ago and remains the heavy Sports Interaction favourite to win the second Stanley Cup in franchise history. The only thing the Lightning have to play for is potentially tying the NHL single-season record for wins, which is 62 by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings. Tampa would have to win this game and Saturday in Boston.
Lightning vs Maple Leafs Betting Analysis
The Lightning are 2-1 vs. the Leafs this season, with each game decided by at least two goals. The one in Toronto was the most recent meeting on March 11, a 6-2 Tampa Bay rout. Victor Hedman (1G, 3A) and Nikita Kucherov (1G, 3A) lead Tampa Bay with four points each vs. Toronto this season. Andrei Vasilevskiy is 2-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .944 save percentage.
Patrick Marleau (1G, 2A), Nazem Kadri (1G, 2A) and Nikita Zaitsev (3A) lead the Leafs with three points each vs. the Lightning. John Tavares hasn’t found the net but has two assists. Frederik Andersen is 1-2-0 with a 4.15 GAA and .872 SV.
The favorite is 5-2 in the past seven meetings.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay has lost back-to-back games just twice all season and looks to avoid that fate Thursday as the Bolts are off a 4-2 loss Tuesday in Montreal – a huge two points for the playoff-hopeful Canadiens. The Lightning, who played third-string netminder Eddie Pasquale in Montreal, have looked rather mortal of late in losing three of five, ending their shot at the NHL single-season record of 132 points. Again, though, there hasn’t been much motivation there.
Hedman, last season’s Norris Trophy winner, hasn’t played since Saturday due to an upper-body injury and isn’t expected to return until the playoffs. Kucherov is going to win the scoring title as he’s well ahead with 125 points. Vasilevskiy could win the Vezina Trophy. The total has gone over in six of Tampa’s past seven road games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston’s 6-2 win on Tuesday in Columbus locked up second place in the Atlantic Division for the Bruins and home-ice advantage in the first round vs. the Leafs. Toronto was a 4-1 home loser Tuesday to Carolina, which massively helped the Hurricanes’ playoff chances. Garret Sparks lost for the sixth time in his past seven.
Tavares had the only Toronto goal, his 47th of the season. Will the Leafs let him play the final two games to possibly reach 50? Tavares would need a miracle to catch Alex Ovechkin (51) for the goal-scoring title. Andersen reportedly will start this game and Saturday to get into a playoff rhythm. Blueliner Jake Gardiner (back) is expected to suit up for the first time since Feb. 27 on Thursday.
