Maple Leafs at Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have sealed a playoff berth for the fourth time in five years and now look to keep hold of their lead in the Atlantic Division as they complete an eight-game homestand Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning are 5-2-0 during their run at Amalie Arena after knocking off Edmonton 3-1 on Sunday and lead second-place Boston by three points.
“We had a chance to play out some scenarios (Sunday) that we have struggled with in the past,” Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos told reporters. “Coming back in games after a tough bounce and playing with a one-goal lead in the third. I thought we did a great job of securing it, getting an extra one and not sitting back.” The Lightning likely will get a break as Toronto coach Mike Babcock told reporters after Monday’s practice that Auston Matthews (upper body), Nikita Zaitsev (illness) and Leo Komarov (lower body) are out for Tuesday while goalie Frederik Andersen (upper body) could be back in net after going through a practice. The Maple Leafs are nine points behind the Lightning and comfortably in a playoff position after winning four straight games and scoring 19 goals while doing it. Toronto has been especially lethal on the power play where it has converted eight of 12 attempts in the last five contests.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (43-22-7): Left wing James van Riemsdyk is set to play his 600th NHL game Tuesday and has posted five goals in his last three contests to push his season total to a career-high 31. Speedy forward Mitch Marner has registered seven of his team-leading 60 points during a five-game streak and William Nylander ended a 13-game goal drought Saturday in the 4-0 win over Montreal. Defenseman Morgan Rielly accumulated seven assists in the last five games and veteran forward Patrick Marleau has three of his 23 goals in the past four contests.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (49-19-4): Tampa Bay killed off all five Edmonton power-play opportunities Sunday after giving up 13 tallies while down a man in the previous 12 contests. “You can see what type of impact it can have on a game,” Stamkos told reporters. “It went the other way against Boston (two power-play goals against Saturday) and (Sunday) we won the special teams battle and get a much-deserved win.” Right wing Nikita Kucherov scored twice Sunday and leads the league with 93 points (36 goals) - nine ahead of Stamkos - while posting 11 in the last six games.
OVERTIME
1. Toronto C Nazem Kadri scored four goals in the last four games and is tied with Matthews for second on the team with 28.
2. Tampa Bay F J.T. Miller has five goals and five assists with a plus-3 rating in nine games since being acquired from the New York Rangers.
3. The Lightning have won two of the three matchups this season, including a shootout triumph in the last on Feb. 26.