What do you find to be more appealing when talking about potential NHL playoff series? Do you like it when divisional opponents go head to head, especially when it’s a rivalry game, or do you prefer seeing teams who don’t meet as often squaring off? There really is no right or wrong answer to that question, as it can be argued that the NHL delivers the most exciting playoffs of all the major sports. The bad news for us hockey fans is that we are going to need to wait a little bit longer before we get to see any postseason action. There is as of yet, not return date to go by, with many believing that it might be June before we see a return to action. The final date will be based on several different factors, and with the current situation being so fluid, no-one really feels good about taking a guess here. Still, we can look ahead at the opening round playoff series that might come to fruition, and for this one we are focusing on a first round battle between a pair of Atlantic Division rivals. Let’s see how the NHL odds will be for the Lightning vs Maple Leafs.
Lightning Vs Maple Leafs if Stanley Cup Playoffs Started Today
The Lightning and Maple Leafs Season to Date
The Tampa bay Lightning came into this season with something to prove after getting swept in the opening round last year. Their early exit came as a huge surprise to most given that they ended last season with the best record in the league. They started this season as one of the favorites to win it all, but a slow start saw them sitting below the playoff line at one point. They eventually came alive, though, going into the shutdown with a 43-21-6 record, which is the second best mark in the Eastern Conference. They would have home ice advantage in this series, where they are 22-10-2.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the more frustrating teams in the league this season, thanks in large part to some serious consistency issues. Every time that it looks as though they are going to go on a positive run, they end up heading the opposite direction, drifting perilously close to the playoff line. As it stands now, the Maple Leafs are 35-26-9 on the season and just 2 games above .500 on the road at 18-16-2. They do have a positive goal differential, but they have already surrendered 50+ goals more than the Lightning to this point.
The Lightning and Maple Leafs Head to Head
Despite having a very solid regular season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have had their issues against the Leafs. Tampa blew them out 7-4 in the opening game of their regular season series, but they have since gone on to lose each of the next 2 meetings, both of which were decided by a single goal.
Lightning and Maple Leafs Series Prediction
This is another series where the events of the regular season meetings might end up having little bearing on the playoff series. The Lightning have too much firepower and a much deep bench, plus better Odds to Win the Stanley Cup, which is why I have them winning this series in 5 games.
