On Thursday night, ESPN will televise what is likely to be a first-round playoff preview between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning and Leafs trail the first place Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division. As the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion, the Lightning have expended massive amounts of effort and energy. To win a Stanley Cup, a team will leave everything on the ice and maybe a little more. Consider that a championship run takes four rounds of brutally grueling games. Going through that experience is one of the most draining in all of sports. Then think about a team that has done it two years in a row.
Furthermore, the Lightning has had to part ways with several key role players because of the NHL salary cap. It is true that the Lighting remains a quality playoff team. But a third consecutive championship is defying gravity.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. This game will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN.
NHL Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
There will be a split on wagering activity for this Atlantic Division rivalry game. Of course, Toronto is the most popular team on the pro hockey betting board. Additionally, the Maple Leafs are playing their best hockey of the season. Toronto is in 2nd place in the Atlantic Division, six points ahead of the Lighting. Wise Guys believe that this game is an opportunity to get the best possible price on the Maple Leafs. That is because Toronto is a quality road team.
In the same way, the Lightning has considerable credibility with the betting public. Countless hockey bettors love home ice with a team that has earned 100 points this season. Two Stanley Cup titles gain credibility with the people like no other achievement.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Overall, Toronto is 50-20-6 straight up and 43-28 over/under. The Maple Leafs have NHL metrics of 3rd for goal scoring, 1st for power play efficiency, 19th for goals against, and 7th for penalty killing.
Toronto center Auston Matthews has exploded to 58 goals with 44 assists for 102 points this season. Matthews has a +17 and has taken the mantel of the Maple Leafs for the upcoming playoffs.
The Maple Leafs are 10-2 against the spread on the road. While as an underdog, Toronto is 6-5 vs. the line. The Maple Leafs are 15-3 on the board in Eastern Conference games. On the road, Toronto is 8-2-1 over the total. As an underdog, Toronto is 5-1 over the total. And in Eastern Conference games, the Maple Leafs are 6-2-1 over the number
Tampa Bay Lightning
In sum, Tampa Bay is 46-21-8 straight up and 38-35 over/under. Tampa Bay has NHL metrics of 9th for goal scoring, 16th for power play efficiency, 8th for goals against, and 11th for penalty killing.
At home, Tampa Bay is 9-5 against the spread. As a favorite, Tampa Bay is 3-5 vs. the line. The Lightning is 5-8 on the board in Eastern Conference games. At home, the Lightning is 9-5 over the total. As a favorite, the Lightning is 7-3 vs. the number. In Eastern Conference games, the Lightning is 4-2 over the total.
Toronto vs. Tampa Bay Prediction
Toronto is 4-1 against Tampa Bay vs. the spread in this series. The Maple Leafs at Lightning are 4-2 over the total. At Tampa Bay, the Maple Leafs are 3-1 against the Lightning. Also, this series is 4-2 over the total at Tampa Bay.
As mentioned earlier, the Maple Leafs have controlled the payout window in this series. Tampa Bay is struggling down the stretch and will be overpriced.
BookMaker Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs
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