{"id":6016,"date":"2022-05-04T09:01:08","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T13:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=6016"},"modified":"2022-05-04T09:01:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T13:01:11","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-prediction-and-betting-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/nhl\/toronto-maple-leafs-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-prediction-and-betting-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2 Prediction and Betting Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview<\/h2>\n

The Maple Leafs blew out the Lightning in Game 1 of this series 5-0 behind two goals from center Auston Matthews. WagerTalk NHL handicapper Kevin Dolan offers his thoughts on Game 2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning series in Toronto.<\/p>\n

Stay on top of the latest NHL<\/a> updates direct from Las Vegas!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Wednesday, May 4<\/th>\nNHL Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Moneyline:<\/td>\nToronto Maple Leafs -130 vs Tampa Bay Lightning +110<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Puckline:<\/td>\nMaple Leafs -1.5 (+190) \/ Lightning +1.5 (-220)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total:<\/td>\n6 Goals (Over -125 \/ Under +105)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Game Time:<\/td>\n7:30pm ET \/ 4:30pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arena:<\/td>\nScotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TV:<\/td>\nESPN2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2 Analysis<\/h2>\n

The Toronto Maple Leafs easily took Monday\u2019s Game 1 opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 5-0 blowout win on home ice.<\/p>\n

Both Austin Matthews and Mitchell Marner stepped up big for the Leafs in that game with three goals and three assists between them as the crowd inside the Scotiabank Arena played a major part in lifting Toronto to one of their best playoff wins in recent history.<\/p>\n

The two teams split their four game series this season with both sides claiming a win and a loss on the road and at home this year, which sets up what could be an incredibly tight playoff series moving forward.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay\u2019s Underlying Data Finally Coming Home To Roost<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s been an impressive season overall for the Tampa Bay Lightning, they nonetheless have been blessed with some good fortune over the course of the year so far with a +19 expected goal differential, the 7th highest in the league.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s fed into their overall numbers this year as well as despite scoring an impressive 3.48 goals per game this season, the 8th highest mark in the league, they haven\u2019t created all that much, ranking just 15th in the league on overall expected goal data this season.<\/p>\n

The Lightning have averaged the 3rd highest shots to goal percentage this year behind only Minnesota and St. Louis which has helped them immensly, but once that number starts to inevitably dip off, the Lightning could be in some trouble further down the line in this series.<\/p>\n

Toronto Might Be Hitting Form At Just The Right Time<\/h3>\n

After reviewing expected goal differential data to cap off the season back on April 15th ahead of the upcoming playoffs, we put out a tweet to suggest the price on the Toronto Maple Leafs at +1000 was the best value on the board as the Leafs have been getting it done this season despite things not always going their way.<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs finished the regular season on a -17 expected goal differential, by far the worst mark out of any of the top teams heading into the playoffs (Colorado, Florida, Calgary and Carolina were all in plus territory), and one of the worst in the league as a whole (27th).<\/p>\n

However, taking +0 as an average, we\u2019ve already started to see these numbers average out, with Toronto now at -16 and the likes of Carolina, who were at +30 over the final week of the regular season, now dropping to +26 as lady luck starts to desert them.<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve been high on this Toronto team over 2022 as a whole as any team that can consistently get results from one of the league\u2019s worst expected goals differential positions is always a team I\u2019m interested in backing over the long-term.<\/p>\n

While the Leafs scored a fantastic opening series victory on Monday, Center Austin Matthews was quick to say the jobs not done here and Toronto needs to hold home serve again tonight and not give anything away cheaply to Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

We like Toronto to do just that tonight and we\u2019re taking the Toronto Maple Leafs on the moneyline to win outright at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Toronto Maple Leafs Moneyline (-130)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/a><\/p>\n

NHL Betting Guide<\/h3>\n

Thanks to the ever-expanding sports betting industry, there are now a variety of ways to attack the betting market outside of the traditional point spreads, moneylines and totals. Few sports have seen an increase of betting popularity like hockey, and we now have several different ways to wager on the NHL and international leagues. Check out our NHL Betting Guide<\/a> with helpful terms and tips for novice bettors.<\/p>\n

\"NHL<\/a><\/p>\n

Puck Time | NHL Predictions for May 4<\/h3>\n

Join Carmine Bianco, Andrew McInnis and The Prez for Wednesday’s edition of Puck Time as our panel of professional hockey handicappers break down tonight’s NHL playoff betting card. The Kings were able to pull off an upset of the Oilers in Game 1 of their series 4-3. Will they be able to go up 2-0 in the series before heading to Los Angeles? Join the Puck Time crew every week day at 11am ET \/ 8am PT as we discuss the NHL betting slate from a variety of handicapping angles.<\/p>\n

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