Leafs’ last chance to erase futile resume
This is one home game that fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs did not need..
Just a win away from capturing its first playoff series since 2004, Toronto failed Thursday. The two-time defending Stanley Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lightning made sure this first-round series would need to go the distance. Brayden Point scored in the Game 6 overtime, sending the participants back across the border.
Toronto’s dismal record for closing out series in recent seasons continues. It dropping the last two games to Montreal in 2021, experiencing the same fate against Boston in 2019. The Maple Leafs also fell in the win-or-go-golfing game against Boston in 2018 as well as against Columbus in 2020.
Toronto is back to +1000 in the odds to win the Stanley Cup, while Tampa Bay’s title odds sit at +1200.
Check the latest NHL lines, stats, injury reports, and NHL odds for Lightning vs Maple Leafs. there are plenty of NHL picks and predictions.
Lightning made their Point
There are plenty of dynamic offensive players on the Tampa Bay Lightning, but as they stared at the possibility of a first-round exit Thursday, Brayden Point came through with the overtime winner, forcing a seventh game game in this series.
Tampa Bay is now a ridiculous 17-0 after a loss in the Stanley Cup games since being swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019.. Nine of those bounce-back wins came by one goal.
There were 42 forwards picked ahead of Point in the 2014 draft, but none has many post-season goals as the 38 scored by Point.
GAME. POINT. pic.twitter.com/RMO35JVEZE
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 13, 2022
Point didi lead Tampa Bay’s forwards in time on ice, and was tied for the team lead with nine Game 6 faceoff wins. With the bulk of the attention paid to Steven Stamkos, Point has delivering time after time, helping the Lightning win back-to-back Cup titles. Now, they’re a win away from capturing another playoff series.
The NHL betting lines total has gone over in five of the Lightning’s last eight.
Toronto trying to rewrite the script
There was a time when the Toronto Maple Leafs won at least one playoff series six times in a span of nine seasons. It’s unfortunate for their long-suffering fans that string of successes came in the 1960s.
The last Stanley Cup title for Toronto was in 1967, Since then, extended playoff runs have been few and far between. Toronto has lost its last seven playoff series, with the Maple Leafs losing a seventh game four times during that stretch.
There is home-ice advantage for the Leafs, who finished five points ahead of Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division standings. Toronto was one of four teams to win at least 30 home games during the regular season.
Toronto lost in overtime in Game 6, though the Maple Leafs controlled much of the play during the period. The Maple Leafs had the overall edge in faceoffs, 39-34, and although the tying goal came on the power play, allowing only one goal during an extended 5-on-3 power play kept the hope of a Leaf series-ender alive.
Eyes will be on Auston Matthews, the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) finalist and two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the top goal-scorer in the NHL He’s had plenty of help as Matthew is one of eight Toronto players with at least two goals in the series. That is one more multi-goal scorer than Tampa Bay has.
The Las Vegas odds total has gone over in Toronto’s last five games.
Lightning vs Maple Leafs Head-to-Head
Toronto and Tampa Bay have split the last 10 meetings when the Maple Leafs were playing at home, with the Leafs winning two of the three games in this playoff series contested in Toronto.
Toronto has won seven of the last 12 games played against Tampa Bay, going 4-1 in the last five one-goal games between the teams.
Something to consider for those who bet online is that at least seven goals were scored in each of the last five games between the teams.
Lightning vs Maple Leafs Game Information
- Game: Lightning (51-23-8 in the regular season); Maple Leafs (54-21-7)
- Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
- Day/Time: Saturday, May 14, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Lightning vs Maple Leafs Streaming: NHL.TV
Lightning vs Maple Leafs Betting Lines
Lightning vs Maple Leafs Prediction
The team scoring first has won five of the first six games in the series.
Heading into Friday’s games, Tampa Bay leads all playoff teams with 269 hits. Only the Boston-Carolina series has more power-play opportunities than the 56 in this series.
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner each have six points in Toronto’s first three home games in this series. Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov have five points each in Tampa Bay’s first three road games in this series.
Pick: Toronto- Maple Leafs (-125)
Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning +1½ Goals (-240)
Parlay: Toronto Maple Leafs (-125) & Tampa Bay Lightning +1½ Goals (-240) at +155
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