Thursday’s slate of NHL action pits the two top teams in the Eastern Conference against each other as the Toronto Maple Leafs travel to the Sunshine State to do battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning, who’ve scored 36 times during a seven-game winning streak, opened as -125 home favorites with a total of 7.
- The OVER is 6-1 in the Maple Leafs’ last seven games.
- The Maple Leafs are 2-7 SU in their last nine road games against the Lightning.
- The total has gone OVER in four of the Lightning’s past six home games.
Maple Leafs vs Lightning Game Center
Stamkos has been fantastic against the Leafs in his career
Fresh off the ninth hat trick of his career in Monday’s 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers, Steven Stamkos will look to continue his hot streak against the Leafs, a team he’s torched in his career. Stamkos owns 18 goals and 41 points in 35 career contests vs Toronto. Right-winger Nikita Kucherov has assists in three straight and leads the club with 45 points – four more than Brayden Point, who’s notched seven of his team-high 21 goals in the last 10 tilts.
Toronto, which is six points behind the conference-leading Lightning, knocked off the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 on Tuesday. William Nylander paved the way for the Buds in that one thanks to two assists in his third game since returning from a lengthy contract dispute. Forward Mitch Marner hasn’t scored in 12 straight but has collected 13 assists in his last eight to take the team lead with 41 points.
Is yet another OVER in store tonight?
The Maple Leafs have been OVER machines of late, evidenced by six of the Leafs’ past seven games going OVER the closing total. The OVER is also 4-2 in Toronto’s last six road games. Much like their Canadian counterparts out west, the Maple Leafs have shown the ability to score at will while occasionally struggling in the defensive end, and they’ve been an excellent OVER wager all season long as a result.
Tampa Bay has also been a reliable OVER wager, with five of its previous seven eclipsing the total. The Bolts have had the upper hand in this series, claiming four of the past five matchups vs the Maple Leafs. Tampa Bay hasn’t been covering the puckline when hosting the Leafs in Florida, however, as the Lightning are 1-5 on the puckline in their last six home games against Toronto.
Vasilevskiy set to return to the crease for the Bolts
Andrei Vasilevskiy (9-3-1, 2.29 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) is going to make his return for the Lightning tonight. The goaltender is making his first start since sustaining a foot injury on November 10.
