Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 4 Prediction, NHL Odds
Both clubs are listed -110 on the NHL moneyline odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Maple Leafs vs. Lightning NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
With Toronto taking a 2-1 series lead thanks to a 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday, the Leafs are -357 (were -161) on the updated series line with the Lightning +299 (were +142). On the series handicap, Toronto at -1.5 games is -141 and Tampa Bay at +1.5 is +124.
The over-under for total games is 5.5, and the over is -256 with the under +222. That it ends in six games is a slight favourite at +174, but Toronto in five is the favoured exact result at +219. Game 5 is back at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday. The favourite is 7-3 in the past 10 meetings.
Toronto Maple Leafs
We projected a 4-3 Leafs road win in Game 3, and that’s what happened in overtime. Ryan O’Reilly (second goal of series) tied the game 3-3 at 19:00 of the third on Saturday, and Morgan Rielly (first) won it at 19:15 of overtime. Noel Acciari (first) and Auston Matthews (first) also scored for Toronto.
Acciari snapped a 25-game playoff goal drought dating to June 1, 2019, when he was with Boston. In a major rarity, Matthews got into a fight with Bolts star Steven Stamkos. It was Matthews’ first fight and the first time in NHL history that two 60-goal players (in their career) had ever fought each other. Ilya Samsonov made 36 saves. Winger Michael Bunting was out suspended and will miss one more. Blueliner Erik Gustafsson has missed the past six and likely not back. The Leafs are 4-0 in their past four road games.
Tampa Bay Lightning
For the most part, Tampa Bay was the better team in the Game 3 loss and outshot the Leafs by 12. Anthony Cirelli (second of series), Brandon Hagel (first) and Darren Raddysh (first) had the Tampa Bay Goals, with Raddysh supplying the Lightning the 3-2 lead at 13:34 of the second. Centre Brayden Point, who had a career-high 51 goals during the regular season, left the game temporarily after an awkward hit in the third period but was able to return to action. Certainly monitor that. Star defenceman Victor Hedman was a game-time call for Game 3 but played and was plus-1 in in 32:35. Fellow Blueliner Erik Cernak has missed the past two and won’t play Monday. The Lightning are 2-6 in their past eight at home.
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