Tip: Another entertaining battle between Toronto and Tampa Bay?

Toronto Maple Leafs visit Amalie Arena and Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night at 07:00 PM ET.

Toronto Maple Leafs-Tampa Bay Lighting

A entertaining series with a lot of goals, goal scoring chances and penalties

It has been an entertaining series between the Maple Leafs and the Lightning so far, with two high scoring contests in Toronto as Tampa Bay won the first game with 7-3 and Toronto took revenge and won 7-2 in the second one. So far in the series, it has been scored nineteen goals and a lot of goal scoring chances has been created as we have seen over sixty shots on goal in both games and besides that, a lot of shots wide. There has also been some work to do for the referees, and especially in game two when we got to see several fights and besides that, several minor penalties. So far in the series, that has been filled with penalties and special teams, we have seen seven goals scored in powerplay – and if the series continues to be tough and contain a lot of penalties, I think we will continue to see a big amount of goals.

The Russian goalkeepers far away from their best shape

The Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov had a good regular season, with a save percentage just under 0.920, but has been far away from that form in this series with a save percentage below 0.850 and eight conceded goals so far. His compatriot on the other team, the 2020/2021 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevkiy, has not been in his best form either with ten goals conceded in the first two games.

Concerns for Tampa Bay and their back pairings

Besides the concern that their key player and goaltender Andrei Vasilevkiy is out of shape, the Lighting have some concerns to deal with regarding their back pairings as both Erik Cernak and Victor Hedman missed game two and the first mentioned is questionable for game three meanwhile the last mentioned is back on the ice, but with an uncertain status. With the two defensemen questionable, the Lightning have far away from the best defensive crew to put on the ice.

The games between Toronto and Tampa Bay this season

It has been some entertaining battles between the Maple Leafs and the Lightning this season, as the five games they have played against each other has ended up with these results:

Regular season:

• Tampa Bay-Toronto 4-3 (after overtime)
• Toronto-Tampa Bay 4-1
• Tampa Bay-Toronto 3-4

Playoffs:

• Toronto-Tampa Bay 3-7
• Toronto-Tampa Bay 7-2

Conclusion and prediction

After two high scoring contests between Toronto and Tampa Bay in Scotiabank Arena, the question is: can we get another one in Amalie Arena? The short answer, from my side, is yes. Based on the conditions, I think it is likely that we got to see another high scoring contest that contains at least six goals. When the Lightning also has their key player and goaltender Andrei Vasilevkiy is out of shape and both defensemen Erik Cernak and Victor Hedman questionable for tonight’s game – the Maple Leafs, with players such as Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, has in my opinion good opportunities to score at least three goals as they have done in the first two games of the series.

My two betting tips for this game is therefore:

• Over 5.5 Goals (regular time) @ -161
• Toronto Over 2.5 Goals (regular time) @ -182

Both bets at Unibet!