Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning Free Preview

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Amalie Arena plays host to a divisional showdown as the Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. TVA Sports will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, February 26.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds

Tampa Bay (-175) is currently favored over Toronto (+155) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).

Earning moneyline bettors 11.3 units, Tampa Bay is 42-20 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 42-40 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 62 regular season matches, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 20-7 SU at home this season.

The Lightning currently have the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 24.9 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all penalties.

The Lightning, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.

Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (36 wins, 15 losses, and two OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Bolts this year. If the Bolts choose to give him a rest, however, head coach Jon Cooper might roll with Louis Domingue (3-10-10 record, .881 save percentage, 3.82 goals against average).

The Bolts will continue to look for offensive production from Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (82 points) is up to 33 goals and 49 assists and has recorded two or more points 26 times this year. Stamkos has 24 goals and 46 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 42 games.

On the other bench, Toronto is 39-25 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 7.2 units this season. A total of 30 of its outings have gone over the total, while an additional 30 have gone under and just four have pushed. The Maple Leafs are 17-15 SU as the visiting team this season.

The Maple Leafs have converted on 20.3 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.4 percent of all penalties.

Toronto’s skaters have been whistled for penalties only 3.3 times per game this season, and 1.9 per game over their past ten contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 3.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Frederik Andersen (2.67 goals against average and .922 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Toronto. Andersen is averaging 31.4 saves per game and has 33 wins, 20 losses, and four OT losses to his credit.

Mitchell Marner (16 goals, 35 assists) has been one of the primary playmaking threats for the visiting Maple Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions

Pick: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over

Betting Notes

  • Two of Toronto’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 6-1 overall in shootouts this season.
  • The over has hit in three of Tampa Bay’s last five outings.
  • Toronto has managed 30.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Tampa Bay is averaging 35.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
  • Tampa Bay is averaging 3.6 goals per game over its three-game winning streak.
  • Over Toronto’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).