Maple Leafs at Lightning
THE STORY: The Toronto Maple Leafs have had their way with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season, scoring 14 goals in two victories. That, however, was when the Leafs were playing good hockey. Toronto is 2-13-2 since Feb. 6, tumbling 10 points back of eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning have played better while Toronto struggled, but they are running out of time. Tampa Bay is seven points out of eighth in the East with 13 games left.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Leafs TV (Toronto), SunSports (Tampa).
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (30-32-8): Toronto has lost five straight games, scoring just four goals in the last four. The Leafs have scored 35 goals and allowed 61 in the last 17 games. Phil Kessel already sports a career-high 72 points and has 34 goals – two shy of matching his career best. James Reimer started in goal Tuesday against Florida, so Jonas Gustavsson may get the call against the Lightning. Power forward Carter Ashton, who was traded from Tampa Bay to the Leafs for defenseman Keith Aulie Feb. 27, has 11 hits, six shots and no points in his first four NHL games.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (32-30-7): Steven Stamkos has joined a elite group of players with two 50-goal seasons before their 23rd birthdays – Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Joe Nieuwendyk, Pavel Bure, Mike Bossy and Alex Ovechkin. Stamkos has 30 of his goals at home, where the Lightning will play their next five games. Tampa Bay will need more heroics from Stamkos to get back in the race. Rookie goalie Dustin Tokarski has done his part with a .923 save percentage in his first three NHL starts. Defenseman Brian Lee has four assists in seven games since being acquired from Ottawa.
OVERTIME:
1. The Lightning swept the Maple Leafs in four games during the 2010-11 season.
2. Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone has at least a point in seven straight games, matching a career high
3. Toronto’s Tyler Bozak scored his 15th goal Tuesday to match his career high.
PREDICTION: Lightning 5, Maple Leafs 2.