As we head into the final few weeks of the NHL season, teams are now well aware that they need to ride with the squad that they have. The trade deadline passed yesterday, with several teams making moves that they hope will strengthen them for the playoff challenge that lies ahead. For some teams, it was more about adding depth, while others tried to fill holes that could potentially hurt them in the postseason. The teams that are sitting below the playoff line or who are heading in the wrong direction will be hoping that their new additions gel quickly, as the time to make things happen is beginning to run out. There are a few teams in trouble right now, with the Toronto Maple Leafs sitting firmly at the top of the list. They are on a definite skid at the moment, one that they will try to halt when they head into Tampa on Tuesday night for a game against the Lightning. It is Tampa who are favored by 1 ½ om home ice, with the goal total set at 7. Let’s see how the NHL odds will be for the Maple Leafs vs Lightning.
Maple Leafs vs Lightning 2020 NHL Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Tuesday, February 25 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
- Radio: Toronto / Tampa Bay
- TV: ESPN+
- NHL Odds: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 / Total 7
Why bet on the Toronto Maple Leafs
You really have to hit rock bottom before you can start to claw your way back, so the Leafs will be hoping that their bottom came over the weekend. Toronto lost 6-3 to the Hurricanes in a game where Carolina was forced to use a 42-year old Zamboni driver as an emergency backup goalie. That the Leafs could not take advantage of that situation tells you just how far they have fallen this season. The Maple Leafs are now 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, with their grip on the #3 spot in the Atlantic Division now down to just 2 points. If this poor run continues, they could be below the playoff line in no time at all. Toronto has managed just 1 win in their last 7 meetings with Tampa, with a 7-3 loss the outcome in their only other meeting this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.49
- Shots: 33.14
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.56
- Goals: 3.33
- Shots: 32.1
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.73
Why bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning recently saw their outstanding 14-game win streak come to an end, and they are now on a run where they have lost back to back games. They are still in fantastic shape in the Eastern Conference, bit those losses now leave them 5 back of the Boston Bruins in the race to win the Atlantic Division. The Lightning have won each of the last 10 games in their own building, taking their record on home ice to 20-7-2. That also means that they are the only team in the league to have racked up 2 wins at home and on the road. The first meeting between these two this season produced 10 goals, but when playing in Tampa, the UNDER has hit 9 out of the last 12 times when these two go head to head.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.56
- Shots: 31.26
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.53
- Goals: 2.76
- Shots: 31.03
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.33
Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Betting Trends
- The total has gone OVER in 13 of Toronto’s last 20 games.
- Toronto are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.
- Toronto are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games against Tampa Bay.
- Toronto are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games.
- Tampa Bay are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games.
- Tampa Bay are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games at home.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Tampa Bay’s last 12 games when playing at home against Toronto.
Maple Leafs vs Lightning Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
The Leafs will be looking to wash out the bad taste of their weekend loss to the Hurricanes, but I am not so sure they are going to be able to do that here. I like the UNDER in this one, but I also think that the Lightning win and cover the spread.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 4
