We’ve got five games on the NHL betting slate tonight, including a marquee matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Leafs can clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight, and the NHL odds suggest they’ll do so. However, the Bolts are playing some of their best hockey of the season lately, led by Nikita Kucherov, who may have something to say about it.
Find out why in my free NHL picks for the Lightning vs Maple Leafs on April 3
Lightning vs Maple Leafs odds
Lightning vs Maple Leafs predictions
It’s time to renew the rivalry between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs with a showdown at Scotiabank Arena.
The Maple Leafs took the previous two games this season, both in overtime, and can clinch a playoff spot with another victory tonight. However, the Bolts have been one of the best teams in hockey for about a month now.
Since the NHL Trade Deadline, Tampa has an 8-2 record while outscoring its opponents by 20 goals, with an average of 4.2 goals scored per game. Russian superstar Nikita Kucherov is leading the charge, who has 21 points over that 10-game stretch.
Kucherov is in the midst of an Art Ross campaign as he and MacKinnon are tied atop the league with 127 points each. A matchup against the Leafs might be exactly what’s needed for him to reclaim his lead in the race.
Kucherov has been dominant against Toronto throughout his entire career with 39 points in 33 games. In the two previous meetings this season, the Russian star scored two goals in each game and combined for seven points overall with 11 shots on net. He’s scored 10 goals over his last 10 regular-season games against the Buds.
Thus, a Kucherov anytime goal is my best bet of the night. Especially since Toronto struggles to keep pucks out of the net while on home ice, allowing 3.32 goals per game this season — sixth most in the NHL.
Additionally, the Bolts power play has been the best in the league since the deadline, a spot where Kucherov has scored 12 times this season, three of which were against Toronto’s penalty kill.
My best bet: Nikita Kucherov anytime goalscorer (+130 at SIA)
Lightning vs Maple Leafs same-game parlay
Kucherov anytime goalscorer
Both teams Over 1.5 goals
Leafs to score first
The Leafs and Bolts average the most and second most goals per game since the trade deadline, averaging 4.27 and 4.2 goals, respectively, since that time.
For my final leg, I’ll take the Leafs to score the first goal. They’ve done this in 43 of their 74 games played (58%), while the Bolts have surrendered the first goal in 52% of their games this season.
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Lightning vs Maple Leafs moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- The Maple Leafs are -130 home favorites with the Bolts +110 road dogs
- Toronto has won eight of the last 10 meetings between these teams, including four-straight in the regular season
- The total is set at 6.5 goals with the Over paying -115 and the Under -105
- The Over is 6-3-1 over these team's last 10 meetings
Lightning vs Maple Leafs betting trend to know
The Maple Leafs have won the third-period moneyline in 10 of their last 14 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Lightning vs. Maple Leafs.
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Lightning vs Maple Leafs game info
| Location: | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON |
| Date: | Wednesday, April 3, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SN, BSSUN |
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