Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions October 21st 2024

Leafs, Lightning Spotlight on Special Teams Ahead of Face-off

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs are set to emphasize enhancing their special teams strategy when they meet Monday night in Toronto, as both teams look to recover from disappointing defeats.

Lightning’s Special Teams Challenges

Coming off their first loss of the season, a 5-4 setback against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, the Lightning (3-1-0) found special teams to be the pivotal element, with Ottawa taking advantage of two power-play goals out of five attempts and scoring once while short-handed.

Tampa Bay struggled on the power play, going 0-for-3, marking a continuation of their inconsistent performance in that area.

“We put ourselves in challenging situations, especially with some of those penalties, and we couldn’t kill them off,” said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper after the defeat. “You can influence the five-on-five game our way, but the special-teams battle was what that difference was.”

Despite a solid showing in their first three games, Saturday’s underperformance highlighted the necessity for improvement as they carry on their three-game road trip.

Lightning Players to Watch

Forward Nicholas Paul found the net for one of Tampa Bay’s goals on Saturday, acknowledging how penalties disrupted their rhythm.

“It’s tough to build momentum when you’re in the box and trailing,” Paul remarked. “We need to find a way to avoid the box and capitalize on the power play.”

Defenseman Ryan McDonagh stressed that regaining the discipline that fueled their strong start is essential.

“It came down to special teams,” McDonagh stated. “We had been solid in that regard in the earlier games, and Saturday was just the opposite for some reason. Poor execution.”

Maple Leafs Target Power Play Enhancement

The Toronto Maple Leafs (3-1-1) are also aiming to refine their power play after going 0-for-3 in their 4-1 defeat to the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Leafs have struggled with consistency, successfully converting only 2 of 16 chances this season.

Frustration mounted for the Leafs, particularly during a power play in the third period that could have tied the game.

“The guys will be frustrated because we didn’t score,” Toronto coach Craig Berube noted. “We didn’t execute well on that third-period power play with our entries and turned the puck over a few times. When the game is on the line with an opportunity to equalize, we need to show more urgency.”

Strong Penalty Killing

A highlight for the Maple Leafs has been their penalty kill, which has proven effective, going 17-for-20 and holding the Rangers to 0-for-2 while they had the man advantage. Toronto’s defense has remained resilient, despite the absence of key players like Chris Tanev for parts of the Rangers game.

Tanev, who blocked a shot late in the second period, returned for limited shifts in the third, demonstrating his toughness and leadership.

“He’s a tough competitor,” Berube said. “An excellent defender and shot blocker, a reliable penalty killer, just a solid all-around player.”

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Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who achieved 25 saves against the Rangers, commended Tanev’s effort.

“As a goalie, you can certainly appreciate that,” said Stolarz. “He takes great pride in blocking shots. It’s going to sting a little, but it’s fantastic to have players like him on the ice.”

Leafs’ Key Players

Auston Matthews will be vital for Toronto’s power play moving forward. Despite a subdued performance against the Rangers, Matthews remains the Leafs’ primary offensive threat and will be keen to make an impact against Tampa Bay.

What’s at Stake

Both teams recognize the significance of refining their special teams as they gear up for a lengthy season with lofty playoff ambitions.
For the Lightning, enhanced discipline and power-play execution will be crucial to returning to their early-season form.
For the Maple Leafs, converting on power plays and sustaining their strong penalty kill will be essential as they conclude a four-game homestand.

With both teams sporting potent offenses, special teams could emerge as a crucial deciding factor in this significant clash between Stanley Cup hopefuls. The matchup promises to be a fierce contest, with both sides eager to address their recent pitfalls.