Maple Leafs vs. Lightning Prediction
The Tampa Bay Lightning can draw closer to wrapping up a playoff spot with a win tonight against the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:30PM ET.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Lightning are -265 money line favorites over the Maple Leafs, who have odds of +220 to pull off the massive upset tonight. As for the over/under, the number currently sits at 5 goals.
Bet Tonight’s Maple Leafs vs. Lightning Game
Rookie Garret Sparks will be between the pipes tonight for the Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old rookie allowed five goals on 38 shots in a 6-5 win over Anaheim on Thursday night. While he does own a winning record of 7-4-1, he’s been inconsistent this season while flashing some promise and upside.
Toronto will face Tampa Bay’s best tonight when Ben Bishop draws the start. Bishop had an off night on Friday when the Lightning beat the Islanders, 7-4. He allowed four goals on 31 shots but the 29-year-old still owns an impressive 32-19-4 record with a 2.05 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage this season. He should bounce back tonight against the struggling Leafs.
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Toronto is winless at 0-4 in its last four trips to Tampa and has lost five of the past seven meetings between these two teams. The home team is also 7-2 in the last nine meetings and the Lightning are now 7-1 in their last eight games after allowing five goals or more in their previous outing. With Bishop due for a bounce back and the rookie in net for the Leafs, tonight should be a blowout at Amalie Arena.
MONDAY NHL FREE PICK: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING -1.5 (+160)
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