Toronto Maple Leafs (57-23-8) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (54-26-8)
Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 7:00 pm
This is a play on the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS for our NHL Saturday Breakaway. Tampa Bay was able to win Game Six in overtime to force a Game Seven on the road. That victory was not a huge surprise as the Lightning have been unbeatable in those spots. Tampa Bay knows how to rebound, going 16-0 in the playoffs during its two Stanley Cup runs plus this season following a loss but now they are off a win and hitting the road where they are 25-17-1-1 while outscoring opponents by just a quarter goal per game. They have been outscored 12-8 in the three games in Toronto and special teams has been part of the issue as the Lightning are just 1-10 on the power play in the two losses here. The Lightning are 0-4 in their last four games following a win. It certainly will be a big task for Tampa Bay as the Maple Leafs are now 33-9-2-0 at home which is the fourth best home record in the NHL and they have dominated here, averaging 3.75 gpg while allowing 2.59 gpg for one of the best scoring differentials at home across the league. Toronto can get the offense rolling here as Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has allowed 21 goals over six games, while his save percentage (.885) and goals-against average (3.37) are among his career worse numbers. The Maple Leafs are 25-10 in their last 35 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. Here, we play on teams against the money line after a loss by one goal in their previous game going up against an opponent after three straight games where both teams scored three goals or more. This situation is 47-29 (61.8 percent) over the last five seasons. 10* (76) Toronto Maple Leafs