Toronto Maple Leafs vs
Tampa Bay LightningPredictions & Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs Look to Sweep Series Against Tampa Bay Lightning in Wednesday Night Matchup

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be aiming for a series sweep as they visit Amalie Arena to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Both teams are coming off impressive wins, with Toronto defeating Columbus 5-0 and Tampa Bay defeating the Rangers 5-1. The Maple Leafs hold a 3-0 season series lead against the Lightning and have a strong record of 7-3-0 in their last 10 games against Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay opens as the favorite in betting lines, with the current line at Tampa Bay -164. Stay tuned to see which team comes out victorious in this Maple Leafs vs. Lightning matchup. **Please note that this preview was written before Tuesday's game was played.**

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Maple Leafs +141 | Lightning -164
• Spread: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-182) | Lightning -1.5 (+156)
• Total: Over/Under 6 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 62%.

Toronto vs Tampa Bay Stats

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have bounced back from a surprising loss to San Jose with four straight wins, leading the Atlantic Division with 98 points, two points ahead of Tampa Bay. They will look to increase their division lead and get the series sweep in their upcoming game on Wednesday. Toronto averages 3.28 goals per game, with top players like Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Auston Matthews leading the scoring. They are giving up 2.88 goals per game, ranking 14th in the league. In their last game, they did not allow a goal with Anthony Stolarz saving all 27 shots. There are some injury concerns with Jake McCabe and David Kampf questionable for the upcoming game. Overall, Toronto is ranked 8 in offense, 14 in defense, and has a record of 47-25-4 this season, placing them at a power ranking of 22.

Tampa Bay Lightning Analysis

The Tampa Bay Lightning recently ended a two-game losing streak with a win over the Rangers, positioning them third in the Eastern Conference standings. They are just two points behind the second-place team and aim to climb further in the rankings in their upcoming game on Wednesday. With an average of 3.56 goals per game, they scored five goals on 23 shots in their last game. Key players include Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, and Brayden Point, who have contributed significantly to the team's success. Defensively, the Lightning are giving up 2.58 goals per game, ranking fourth in the league. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has been instrumental in their defensive efforts with a solid performance in their last game. With a power ranking of 4, the Lightning excel in offense, defense, and overall record, dominating recent matchups against Toronto.

Tampa Bay Lightning poised for victory over Toronto Maple Leafs with strong offensive and defensive performance at home

The Tampa Bay Lightning have demonstrated strong performance with four consecutive wins at home, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have won three of their last five road games. Tampa Bay holds an advantage due to their impressive offensive capabilities, scoring 19 goals in their most recent three home games, in addition to their success on special teams with a power play conversion rate of over 25 percent. On the other hand, the Maple Leafs rank 16th in the league in penalty kills and have struggled defensively in recent road games, allowing nine goals in their last three away matches. Furthermore, with Toronto playing on consecutive nights and potentially facing fatigue, they may find it challenging to contain the Lightning's potent offense. Expect Tampa Bay to maintain a solid defensive performance, having only allowed four goals in their last three home games, which should limit Toronto's offensive success. Therefore, it is recommended to choose Tampa Bay on the money line.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]