Two games into theToronto Maple Leafs The first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs has begun for the Maple Leafs as they face off against the reigning champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning. This series has shown both promising moments and challenges.
In their initial matchup, Toronto secured a strong victory, but this was followed by a narrow defeat in the second game held on Wednesday. After these two contests at home, the Maple Leafs are now set to travel and face Tampa for their next two games.
As the series moves to Tampa on Friday evening, the Lightning demonstrated their skill during Game 2. For the first time in this series, Toronto enters the rink as a bit of an underdog, facing odds of +100 while Tampa Bay is at -120.Ontario sports betting .
The game is -105 atDraftKings Sportsbook Ontario The total goal expectation for the game is set at 6.5, which was achieved in the previous match (with Tampa winning 5-3). Given the officiating style observed in the first two games, both teams will likely have numerous chances on the power play, which could elevate the scoring.
In the last game on Wednesday, there were a total of 11 power plays, with the Lightning benefiting from seven of those. If Toronto hopes to succeed, they must improve their discipline and avoid penalties, or else face another challenging outing against players like Victor Hedman.
Leafs Superstars Coming Up Big
From Toronto's perspective, the team will continue to rely heavily on their star players, particularly Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Both players are currently leading the playoffs with five points each and have capitalized on Andrei Vasilevskiy’s inconsistent performance that has lingered from the regular season.
While Vasilevskiy has showcased some incredible saves, he has also allowed eight goals over the course of the first two games. This suggests that scoring chances for Toronto could be abundant. However, their top-performing power play from the regular season hasn't matched expectations, prompting Toronto to possibly prefer a game played at equal strength rather than engaging in special teams battles like the previous encounters.
Michael Bunting made his return to the lineup, scoring a goal in Game 2, rejoining Marner and Matthews on the top line. This trio performed exceptionally during five-on-five play and will be central to Toronto's quest for a win.
Campbell Holding His Own in Goal
Leafs' goalie Jack Campbell struggled during Game 2, especially after a stellar shutout performance in the series opener. He showcased his ability to outperform Vasilevskiy previously, and with Toronto's offensive power, he might be able to manage even with a few goals scored against him. Overall, his play has been strong and is a positive factor as they head into Game 3.
Tampa Bay's victory in the second game made it clear that they are not to be taken lightly in these playoffs, providing fans with the competitive series that was anticipated. Winning on the road in Tampa is undoubtedly challenging, but with Matthews and Marner on Toronto's side, they hold the upper hand with the top two players on the ice.NHL betting odds.
Toronto aims to become the first Canadian team to lift the Stanley Cup in close to three decades.
Fromdeereplanet.com
