Lightning vs Leafs Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for NHL Playoffs Game 2 (Toronto Bounces Back After Game 1 Disaster)

The 2022-23 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs continue on Thursday, April 20, including Game 2 of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs series out East.

Lightning vs Leafs Game 2 Info

• Series: Lightning lead 1-0
• Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Venue: Scotiabank Arena -- Toronto, Ontario
• Coverage: ESPN, Bally Sports Sun

Despite having the home-ice advantage, the Maple Leafs were left embarrassed in front of the Scotiabank Arena faithful in Game 1. The Lightning cruised to a 7-1 victory in enemy territory, led by Nikita Kucherov and Corey Perry, who each finished with three-point efforts.

Can the Lightning put Toronto in a stranglehold with another victory? Or will the Maple Leafs head to Tampa with the series tied?

Lightning vs Leafs Odds & Spread

• All NHL betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: TBL: (+140) | TOR: (-170)
• Spread: TBL: +1.5 (-182) | TOR: -1.5 (+150)
• Total: 6.5 -- Over: (+104) | Under: (-128)

The Maple Leafs enter this contest as home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 7 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 6.5 goals with the under being favored at -128 odds.

Lightning vs Leafs Betting Trends

• Tampa Bay is 2-5 straight up in its last seven games against the Atlantic Division.
• Toronto is 9-3 straight up in its last 12 games played in April.
• The total has hit the over in five of Tampa Bay's last six games.
• The total has hit the over in eight of Toronto's last 10 games against Tampa Bay.

Lightning vs Leafs Prediction & Pick

Although the Game 1 loss was embarrassing, the Maple Leafs must put it in the rearview. They have a great opportunity to even the series on Thursday as Lightning defensemen Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak — two of their top four defenders — both exited Tuesday's meeting with injuries and are now questionable for Game 2.

If either Hedman or Cernak miss time, the Maple Leafs have the offensive depth to take advantage. After all, four Toronto forwards racked up at least 80 points during the regular season. While the Lightning have offensive threats too, it's going to be tough to keep pace without two of the most important players on their blue line.

In what should be another offense-filled meeting, back the Maple Leafs to tie the series 1-1.

Final Score Prediction: Maple Leafs: 5 | Lightning: 3

Lightning vs Leafs Best Bet

After the Lightning and Maple Leafs combined for 10 goals on Tuesday, I recommend taking the over on the 6.5-goal total as the best bet. The over has gone 5-1 over Tampa Bay's last six games, as well as 4-2 in Toronto's last six at home. The Lightning and Maple Leafs have also combined for the over in eight of their previous 10 meetings, averaging 7.1 goals over that stretch.

Having hit the over in three of their last four collisions, expect a fair bit of offense from these juggernauts in Game 2.

Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (+104)

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.