Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions January 20th 2025

Maple Leafs Aim for Third Win of Season Against Lightning

The Toronto Maple Leafs enter their matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night with momentum on their side, fresh off a seven-goal comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile, the Lightning are coming off a dominant win of their own and will look to snap a two-game losing streak against Toronto this season.

Maple Leafs Riding High After Historic Comeback

The Maple Leafs (26-15-8) put together a thrilling performance on Saturday, erasing a 3-0 first-period deficit to stun Montreal 7-3. Five third-period goals capped off the comeback win, a feat the franchise hadn’t accomplished since 1942 in games against the Canadiens.

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Head coach Craig Berube praised his team’s resilience and goaltender Joseph Woll, who made 32 saves.

“It was a big game for both teams,” Berube said. “Montreal’s been playing extremely well and it showed in the first period, but we got our feet under us and started playing the right way and doing the right things. It was a great comeback win from the guys. Our goaltender led the way, in my opinion.”

Key Performers for Toronto

• Oliver Ekman-Larsson (1 G, 2 A vs. Montreal) – Led the Leafs in scoring in the victory.
• Auston Matthews (First career short-handed goal) – Overcame a slow start to contribute in a major way.
• Bobby McMann (1 G, 1 A vs. Montreal) – Helped spark the comeback.

Matthews admitted the first period wasn’t his best, but he and his teammates remained confident.

“Felt pretty good. I mean, (Saturday) wasn’t my best night, especially that first period,” Matthews said. “This has been a tough building for us in the last couple years, and that first period was tough. So, I think it’s just a testament to the guys we got in the room. There’s a no-quit mentality.”

McMann echoed the team’s belief in itself, even when trailing 3-0 early.

“A lot of positivity, honestly,” McMann said. “Recognizing that we weren’t playing our game, and we were not playing up to how we should be. Realizing that we’re a really good team, and we’ve shown it many times this year. And if we stick with our plan, we’re going to come out on top.”

Toronto now seeks its third win of the season over Tampa Bay, having defeated the Lightning 5-2 on Oct. 21 and 5-3 on Nov. 30.

Lightning Hitting the Road After Big Win

The Lightning (28-19-5) are coming off a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, in which they displayed offensive firepower and special teams efficiency.

Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel each recorded one goal and two assists, while Kucherov hit another milestone, becoming just the second player in franchise history to reach 600 career assists—following Victor Hedman (601 assists).

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Kucherov Continues MVP-Caliber Play

Kucherov extended his point streak to eight games (4 goals, 10 assists), further solidifying himself as one of the league’s top offensive talents.

“There’s not enough time to talk about what Kuch has meant to this organization and this league, quite frankly,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “He’s a generational player and hopefully we’ll get to see hundreds more of those. That’s just an elite player being special.”

Key Performers for Tampa Bay

• Nikita Kucherov (1 G, 2 A vs. Detroit, 8-game point streak) – The Lightning’s offensive engine.
• Jake Guentzel (1 G, 2 A vs. Detroit) – Continues to be a key contributor.
• Darren Raddysh (1 G, 1 A on power play vs. Detroit) – Helped the Lightning go 2-for-3 on the power play.

Tampa Bay begins a four-game road trip in Toronto, having won three of its last four games. However, the Lightning have struggled against the Maple Leafs, losing both previous matchups this season.

Can Toronto Keep Its Streak Against Tampa Bay Alive?

With Toronto’s offense clicking and Tampa Bay’s stars in peak form, this game is shaping up to be a high-scoring battle.

• Will Toronto’s momentum carry over, leading them to a third straight win over Tampa Bay?
• Can Tampa Bay’s power play and Kucherov’s hot streak turn the tide?

With both teams coming off statement wins, expect an electric atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena as the Maple Leafs and Lightning collide once again.