Lightning at Maple Leafs Preview

Game 61: Tampa Bay Lightning (38-18-4) at Toronto Maple Leafs (27-25-11)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Scotiabank Arena, The Big Smoke

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, NHL Network, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -180

Know the Opponents: Pension Plan Puppets

Well, now we kind of know what the team will look like heading into the playoffs. The Lightning had a relatively quiet deadline day and will finish off the final 21 games of the season with the squad that they’ve had for most of the season. With all of the drama and rumors behind them, they can focus on getting back to winning games on the ice, starting tonight in Toronto.

It’s hard to label any game a “must-win” when the team is tied for the top of the division, but beating a Toronto team that is more likely to draft in the first round than play in the playoffs would be a nice boost for a Lightning team that is scuffling a bit right now. It would be a bridge too far to say they have had their confidence shattered, after all, one of the defining traits of this team is their confidence in their abilities, but it was interesting to hear Coach Cooper describe their play late in the loss to Winnipeg as “fragile”.

If nothing else, the losing streak should have humbled them a little, and, from what the players and coaches have said after the losses, they know they need to get back to basics, back to grinding out each play and making life harder for the opposing team. That’s been lacking a little since the break. If the Bolts can get back to a stronger forecheck and better discipline in the neutral zone, it should go a long way to jumpstarting their offense.

Toronto has always been a difficult building for them as they are 2-4-2 since the start of the 2021-22 season, and have lost their last three trips to the Scotiabank Arena. While the Maple Leafs didn’t exactly blow things up over the trade deadline, they were sellers, parting with Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, and Scott Laughton over the last couple of days. It’ll be a somewhat different line-up they’re facing, but noted Lightning-killers Matthew Knies and William Nylander are still in the line-up so it won’t be a cakewalk.

If Corey Perry makes it to Toronto in time, the Lightning could return to a 12/6 line-up and finally start working on some consistency on their defensive pairings. As to who might be the odd skater out, well that’s what Coach Jon Cooper gets paid the unknown amount of big bucks for. With Buffalo on tap for the game tomorrow, Jonas Johansson may get the start tonight. [Ed Note. It’s Vasilevskiy starting tonight].

The road trip hasn’t gone the way the Lightning have wanted it to so far, but if they were to win just two games, the next two are the most important. Lets see if they can come and grab the lead (something they haven’t had since the last time these two teams met) and dictate the pace of play.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Toronto Maple Leafs

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