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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (44-19-5) at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
(43-18-7)
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7:30 p.m., Amalie Arena
TV: Sportsnet Radio: TSN 1050
WHY WATCH?
The slug-out for second place, two games in 17 days versus the Bolts with them and the Bruins all fighting the Leafs for runner-up status to division-leading Florida, sees both clubs filling the net, the Leafs actually with 30 goals more . But Toronto’s dynamic duo of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will be facing 35-game winner Andrei Vasilevskiy, who owns a career .923 save percentage against them. Jack Campbell returned with a win over the Flyers on Saturday, but this will be a hornet’s nest around him.
LEADER POINTS
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
GP GA PTS +/-
Auston Matthews 63 51 37 88 +11
Mitch Marner 59 28 53 81 +18
John Tavares 67 24 41 65 -4
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
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Steven Stamkos 67 32 44 76 +12
Victor Hedman 68 19 47 66 +17
Brayden Point 54 27 27 54 -3
SPECIAL TEAMS
power play
Toronto: 29.8% (1st)
Tampa Bay: 22.2% (12th)
Penalty kill
Toronto: 83.9% (4th)
Tampa Bay: 81.9% (4th)
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE LIGHTNING
1. They were on a four-game win streak until letting a 3-1 home lead get away against Montreal on Saturday and losing in a shootout. That and the Leafs nudging ahead of them for a second spot based on one more regulation win should heighten awareness for this encounter.
“Games come at you fast,” coach John Cooper said after Saturday’s loss. “Everyone gets put through these situations.”
2. All the Lightning’s guns are blazing, Nikita Kucherov with nine points the past four games, Markham-born Steven Stamkos 10 points (five goals, five assists) over his past six, while Brayden Point has scored in three straight and has nine points his past six appearances.
3. The Lightning have added a key forward in their push for three consecutive Cups in forward Brandon Hagel. And expect another newcomer, Nick Paul, to want to give the Leafs some grief after years in Ottawa on a mostly one-sided Battle Of Ontario.