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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Preview – October 21, 2024

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs meet Monday night at Scotiabank Arena, both looking to bounce back from recent losses and fine-tune their special teams. With both teams vying for top spots early in the season, this matchup promises a thrilling contest between two Stanley Cup contenders.

Lightning Focus on Special Teams Improvement

The Lightning (3-1-0) head into Toronto after suffering their first loss of the season, a 5-4 defeat to the Ottawa Senators. Tampa Bay’s struggles on special teams were evident, giving up two power-play goals and a short-handed goal. The Lightning’s own power play went 0-for-3, a key factor in the loss.”

Tampa Bay will need a cleaner performance if they hope to get back on track. Nicholas Paul, who scored in the loss to Ottawa, noted, “It’s hard to get the momentum going when you’re in the box.”

Maple Leafs Aim to Regain Scoring Touch

The Maple Leafs (3-2-0) are also coming off a disappointing loss, falling 4-1 to the New York Rangers on Saturday. Toronto’s power play sputtered again, going 0-for-3, bringing their season total to just 2-for-16. Despite creating some good looks, Toronto struggled to capitalize when it mattered, especially during a crucial third-period power play.

Toronto has shown strength on the penalty kill, going 17-for-20 so far this season. The Maple Leafs also played well defensively, with goaltender Anthony Stolarz making 25 saves against the Rangers. Defenseman Chris Tanev blocked two shots in that game, bringing his season total to 15, further highlighting his value to the team.

Key Matchup: Tampa Bay’s Offense vs. Toronto’s Defense

Tampa Bay will rely on key contributors like Ryan McDonagh to help clean up defensive lapses and stay out of the penalty box. The Lightning need to reignite their early-season form, where they excelled in both power-play and penalty-kill situations.

Meanwhile, Toronto will lean on its balanced offense and solid goaltending from Stolarz, while hoping that Tanev can continue to anchor the blue line with his shot-blocking prowess.

Prediction and Pick

Both teams are looking to regain momentum, and with both coming off subpar performances, this game could be close. Tampa Bay’s improved special teams will be critical in determining the outcome. If the Lightning can clean up their play and convert on power-play opportunities, they could steal a road victory.

  • Pick: Lightning
  • Score Prediction: Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 3

Expect a high-scoring game that goes over the 6.5 total, with Tampa Bay bouncing back to keep pace in the standings.

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