Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Predictions, Odds, & Best Bets (4/17): Will Matthews Score Goal No. 70?

Today’s Maple Leafs vs. Lightning predictions and best NHL bets are brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NHL to the NBA and everything in between.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (46-25-10) and Tampa Bay Lightning (44-29-8) finish their 2023-24 regular-season schedule when they face off at Amalie Arena in one of four NHL games slated for Wednesday, April 17.

G A M E D A Y

? @Sportsnet | ? @FAN590 @Scotiabank // #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/OBwBS2bvre

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 17, 2024

The Maple Leafs hope to avoid a fourth consecutive loss tonight after falling 5-2 to the Florida Panthers less than 24 hours ago. Meanwhile, the Lightning’s losing streak was also extended to three games with Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

When it comes to going on a championship run, BetOnline has Toronto tied for the ninth-best 2023-24 Stanley Cup odds (+1400) while Tampa Bay sits 12th at +2000.

Which team will gain some much-needed momentum before the playoffs? Let’s discuss that as we navigate my Maple Leafs vs. Lightning NHL predictions and best bets.

Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Betting Tonight (4/17)

Maple Leafs vs Lightning Matchup Information

• Matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs (46-25-10, 24-10-6 Away) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-29-8, 24-11-5 Home)
• Venue & Location: Amalie Arena (Tampa, FL)
• Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
• Game Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Time
• How to Watch Maple Leafs vs. Lightning: TNT

Lightning vs Maple Leafs NHL Betting Odds

Lightning vs. Maple Leafs NHL odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Wednesday, April 17 at 11:01 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Maple Leafs vs Lightning Puck Line

• Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5 (-240)
• Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (+200)

Lightning vs Maple Leafs Over/Under

• Over 6.5 Goals (-114)
• Under 6.5 Goals (-102)

Maple Leafs vs Lightning Moneyline

• Toronto Maple Leafs (+110)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (-124)

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NHL Best Bets & Picks Today

Are you hoping to get in on even more NHL betting action today? Be sure to check out our NHL picks page for consensus picks for every 2023-24 game.

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Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Betting Trends

• Toronto is 10-4 straight up in its last 14 road games.
• Tampa Bay is 0-5 straight up in its last five home games vs. Toronto.
• The total hit the Over in four of Toronto’s last five games.
• The total hit the Under in four of Tampa Bay’s last six home games.
• The total hit the Over in 12 of the last 18 Toronto-Tampa Bay matchups.

Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Predictions & Pick (4/17)

Tonight’s regular-season finale is a relatively meaningless game for both sides.

Although bragging rights are on the line, a victory won’t change either team’s spot in the standings. The Maple Leafs are already locked into the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed and will face the Boston Bruins in Round 1 while the Lightning will take on the Florida Panthers as the East’s top wild-card club.

Nevertheless, Toronto is looking to earn the series victory tonight. The Maple Leafs have won two of their three previous meetings against the Lightning with both victories coming by one goal. Having said that, it was Tampa Bay that emerged with the 4-1 win when these rivals last collided on April 3.

If Jon Cooper’s team wants to build off that moment, it must re-discover its goal-scoring ways. The Lightning have been held to exactly two goals in each of their last three games, resulting in a loss every time.

The Maple Leafs need the likes of Auston Matthews to take advantage of the Lightning’s recent offensive issues. 

Meanwhile, Toronto is dealing with the opposite issue during its skid. The Maple Leafs can’t keep the puck out of their own net, allowing at least five goals across the last three games.

After Justin Woll played last night, the Leafs will likely count on Ilya Samsonov to keep the puck out of their net. On one hand, the Russian netminder is 5-1-1 across his last seven starts. On the other hand, he played to a 3.17 goals-against average and .895 save percentage in those contests while allowing 11 goals on the last 52 shots he’s faced.

Daily Faceoff points to Matt Tomkins starting for the Lightning tonight. The 29-year-old netminder hasn’t looked special in his first year in the league, going 2-2-1 with a 3.19 GAA and .891 SV% across five appearances.

With all of that in mind, I’m taking the Lightning to win tonight. The Maple Leafs are allowing too many goals for my liking lately and I think the Amalie Arena crowd will provide the Bolts with a major boost.

I also suggest backing the Over on the 6.5-goal total. After all, Over is 4-1 in Toronto’s last five games and 21-16-3 at Amalie Arena this season. That’s without mentioning how 12 of the last 18 Maple Leafs-Lightning tilts surpassed their projected total with two of three 2023-24 meetings finishing with the Over.

Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Prediction: TBL wins

Best Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Bet: o6.5 Total Goals (-114)

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Best Maple Leafs vs Lightning NHL Player Prop (4/17)

I feel like getting risky for the end of the NHL regular season, let’s take Auston Matthews to score 2+ goals (+250) tonight.

Auston Matthews was THIS CLOSE to scoring his 70th goal of the season. ?

(?: @Sportsnet)pic.twitter.com/eihAFay3Rg

— theScore (@theScore) April 17, 2024

Matthews currently paces the NHL with a career-high 69 goals, putting him one away from becoming the first player to hit the 70-goal mark in over 30 years. The 26-year-old sniper already has 18 multi-goal games this season with one of those coming against the Lightning. In fact, he’s recorded two goals in two of his last seven meetings with Tampa Bay, racking up a total of eight during that stretch.

Considering how Tomkins hasn’t been the most reliable goaltender, I won’t be surprised if Matthews makes history (and then some) this evening.

Best Maple Leafs vs Lightning Prop Bet: Auston Matthews to Record 2+ Goals (+250)

Get 50% up to $1,000 on your Maple Leafs vs. Lightning NHL picks today over at BetOnline

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