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

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning October 21st 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Lightning and Maple Leafs. The game is starting at 7:30 ET on NHLN, and it’s hosted by the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. Get ready to place your bets! This Atlantic division matchup has an over/under of 6.5 goals, and the Maple Leafs are favored by -1.5 at home vs. the Lightning.

Tampa Bay vs. Toronto Key Information

Tampa Bay suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1-0 after a 5-4 defeat to the Senators. The Lightning were -1.5 goal favorites, failing to cover the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 9, surpassing that mark.

After trailing 2-0 in the first period, the Lightning tied the game twice, but couldn’t take the lead. Four different players scored for Tampa Bay in the loss.

Tampa Bay’s offense was held scoreless in the first period but found the net three times in the second, including Nikita Kucherov’s 7th goal of the season. Nick Paul added his first goal, while Jake Guentzel scored for the first time this season. Mitchell Chaffee netted his first goal of the year in the third period.

Anthony Cirelli picked up his 3rd assist on Chaffee’s goal and also assisted on Paul’s earlier tally. The Lightning fired 29 shots on goal but were held without a power play goal. Tampa Bay had 17 giveaways in the game.

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On the defensive side, the Lightning gave up the first two goals of the game and allowed a total of five goals on 28 shots from the Senators. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves, finishing with a save percentage of 82.1%. Tampa Bay’s defense also recorded 2 takeaways and 15 hits. The Lightning will look to improve their penalty kill, as they gave up two power-play goals, as well as a short-handed goal at 6:17 in the 3rd period.

Toronto’s 4-1 loss to the Rangers dropped them to 3-2-0 on the season. The Maple Leafs were favored on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 5 goals fell short of the over.

Auston Matthews scored Toronto’s only goal, which came in the third period. The Maple Leafs’ defense struggled, allowing two empty-net goals late in the game.

The Maple Leafs managed 35 shots on goal in their 4-1 loss to the Rangers, but only found the net once. Auston Matthews, who took 9 shots, scored his second goal of the season at 16:20 in the third period. Oliver Ekman-Larsson earned his fourth assist, while Matthew Knies picked up his first.

Toronto struggled with giveaways, recording 15 in the game. Despite their offensive challenges, they were active in the third period, with Matthews’ goal coming after the Rangers had already built a 2-0 lead.

Toronto’s defense allowed the first two goals, but both came on empty nets in the 3rd period. Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves with a 92.6% save percentage. Toronto’s defense also had 7 takeaways and 20 hits.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Lightning to defeat the Maple Leafs while playing on the road. Given the current moneyline odds at +120, I’m placing a wager on the Lightning to win outright.

Our projections have the Lightning pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Lightning, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Lightning Look to Bounce Back on Special Teams Against Maple Leafs

The Tampa Bay Lightning are determined to improve their special teams performance Monday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs in a matchup of two Stanley Cup contenders. After suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday to the Ottawa Senators, the Lightning are focused on tightening up their penalty kill and power play.

Special Teams Struggles

The Senators capitalized on Tampa Bay’s penalty woes, scoring two power-play goals in five attempts and adding a short-handed goal to secure a 5-4 victory. The Lightning’s penalty kill, which had been solid early in the season, faltered at key moments, and the power play went 0-for-3, adding to their frustration.

“We put ourselves in tough spots, especially taking some of those penalties, and we couldn’t kill them off,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “You can sway the five-on-five game our way, but the special-teams war was what made the difference.”

The Lightning’s power play, usually one of their strengths, failed to convert any chances, contributing to their downfall. Improving in this area is a priority as they face a tough opponent in Toronto.

Maple Leafs’ Power Play Woes

The Maple Leafs also experienced power play struggles in their recent 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, failing to score on three opportunities with the man advantage. Toronto’s power play is just 2-for-16 on the season, and coach Craig Berube emphasized the need for better execution.

“When the game is on the line right there with an opportunity to tie it up, we’ve got to have more urgency,” said Berube. The Leafs also struggled to gain momentum from their power-play chances, an area they’ll need to improve to get past Tampa Bay’s defense.

Despite the power-play struggles, Toronto has been effective at killing penalties, going 17-for-20 so far this season. They limited the Rangers’ power play to 0-for-2 on Saturday, keeping them in the game until two empty-net goals sealed the defeat.

Tanev’s Gritty Effort

Chris Tanev, Toronto’s defenseman, continues to impress with his defensive work, particularly in shot-blocking. Tanev left Saturday’s game briefly after blocking a shot in the second period but returned in the third despite the discomfort.

“He’s a tough guy, great defender, and shot blocker,” Berube said. “He brings a lot of character and leadership to the team.”

Anthony Stolarz, Toronto’s goaltender, praised Tanev’s efforts, acknowledging the impact that such gritty defensive plays have on a team’s success.

Lightning Looking to Regain Momentum

Tampa Bay is aiming to recapture the form that helped them get off to a strong start this season. Key to that is cutting down on penalties and finding success on special teams.

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“It came down to special teams,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We’ve been pretty solid the first few games in that aspect, and Saturday it was just the opposite.”

Nicholas Paul, who scored a goal in Saturday’s loss, added, “It’s hard to get the momentum going when you’re in the box and you’re down.”

Key Matchup Ahead

Both teams will look to correct their recent special teams issues as they clash in Toronto. The Maple Leafs, with a 2-for-16 power play, and the Lightning, looking to bounce back from their own special teams struggles, know that these aspects of the game could decide the outcome.

With top stars like Nikita Kucherov for the Lightning and Auston Matthews for the Maple Leafs looking to get their teams back on track, this matchup promises to be a battle of offensive firepower with special teams playing a pivotal role in the outcome.