Maple Leafs vs. Lightning Odds & Picks: Goal-Fest

With just about a month left to play in the NHL season, the Leafs and the Lightning are battling for second place in the Atlantic Division, and tonight we have a big matchup between the two with a couple of important points at stake. It's also the first day online sports betting is legal in Ontario!

Both teams come into this one playing some very good hockey. The Leafs are riding a four-game winning streak and have won five of their last six games. In that four-game streak, Toronto has scored 5+ goals in each game. Tampa also comes in having won four of their last five, and oddly enough both teams' most recent loss came at the hands of the basement-dwelling Canadiens.

Maple Leafs vs. Lightning Betting Odds

*Odds via Caesars

Maple Leafs vs. Lightning Best Bets

Over 6.5 Goals (-110, Caesars)

The Leafs and Lightning are two teams that can be a threat to score with any of their four lines on the ice. Both teams are averaging well over 3.00 goals per game while the Leafs are also allowing over 3.00 goals per game. Like I mentioned above, the Leafs have scored 5+ goals on their own over the course of their four-game winning streak, and if they do that tonight, the over will be very likely to cash. Tampa's offense also comes into this one hot as they've scored 4+ goals in each of their last four games.

Risk: 1.1 Units to Win 1 Unit on Caesars.

Second Period Over 2.5 Goals (+140, Caesars)

At +140, I think this is my favorite bet of the night. The second period for the Maple Leafs have gone over the 2.5 total in each of their last four games, and they've done so with relative ease. Of the Lightning's last four second periods played, they have gone over the 2.5 total twice, but in all four second periods, the Lightning have done their part and have scored at least two goals. Basically, second periods have been exciting for both of these teams who clearly know how to take advantage of the long change.

Risk: 1 Unit to Win 1.4 Units on Caesars.

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