Monday Night Prime: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Leafs Look to Stay Perfect Against Lightning

The Toronto Maple Leafs aim to continue their dominance over the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, hoping to make it 3-0-0 in the 2024-25 season series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM, and the game will be streaming live on Amazon Prime.

Toronto sits at the top of the Atlantic Division with a 29-16-2 record, while Tampa Bay, currently in third, trails with a 25-16-3 record. Both teams have their eyes on the standings as they face off in what promises to be another intense divisional matchup.

The Leafs enter tonight’s contest fresh off a resounding 7-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. The game showcased their offensive depth, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into tonight’s clash.

Lineup Adjustments

Toronto’s lineup will see some changes tonight, with rookie Fraser Minten getting the call-up to replace an injured John Tavares. Minten, who has 4 points in 11 games this season, will slot in on the third line alongside Max Domi and Nick Robertson. On the defensive end, Simon Benoit replaces Myers to bring fresh legs to the blue line.

For the Lightning, backup goaltender Jonas Johansson gets the nod in net. Johansson has posted a 5-3-1 record with a .903 save percentage this season, stepping up in the absence of Andrei Vasilevskiy, who will serve as the backup tonight.

Projected Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forwards:
Knies – Matthews – Marner
McMann – Holmberg – Nylander
Domi – Minten – Robertson
Dewar – Kampf – Lorentz
Extra: Reaves

Defense:
McCabe – Rielly
Ekman-Larsson – Tanev
Benoit – Timmins
Extra: Myers

Goalies:
Woll (starting)
Hildeby (backup)

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:
Guentzel – Point – Kucherov
Hagel – Cirelli – Paul
Girgensons – Geekie – Chaffee
Eyssimont – Glendening – Atkinson

Defense:
Hedman – Raddysh
McDonagh – Crozier
Lilleberg – Perbix

Goalies:
Johansson (starting)
Vasilevskiy (backup)

Betting Predictions

Anytime Goal Scorer: Fraser Minten (+360)

Minten has performed admirably when called upon, tallying 4 points in 11 games. With Tavares out, Minten is expected to see increased ice time on the third line tonight. At +360, he’s a solid value pick.

Anytime Goal Scorer: Brayden Point (+125)

Brayden Point has been a consistent contributor against Toronto, often feeding off Nikita Kucherov’s playmaking. With Kucherov racking up an incredible 21 points in his last 14 games against the Leafs, Point offers excellent value at +125.

Total Saves: Jonas Johansson Over 25.5 (-125)

Johansson is likely to face a barrage of shots from Toronto’s high-powered offense. History suggests backup goaltenders often rise to the occasion against the Leafs, making this bet a safe choice.

High Stakes in the atlantic

With Florida idle tonight, the Leafs have an opportunity to create some breathing room at the top of the division. Meanwhile, the Lightning aim to close the gap and gain ground in what has been a competitive race.

Will Toronto’s offensive firepower prevail, or will Tampa’s resilience shine through? Tune in tonight to find out.

GO LEAFS GO!