1 week Ago By Lance Hornby
Article content WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m. TV: Sportsnet RADIO: TSN 1050 ODDS Toronto +140 Tampa Bay -170 THE BUZZ Until April, the outlook was this game being the undercard on Toronto’s Sunshine State trip.
That was before coach Jon Cooper’s team got hot and climbed to second place in the Atlantic Division ...
Toronto has a 3-0 record against the Bolts this year, scoring five in each game ...
While the Leafs spent Tuesday in a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Panthers, the rested Lightning have won five of the past seven and increased their conference-best goal differential to plus 74 ...
Tampa settles in for four games at home, its longest stand since before the 4 Nations Face-Off ...
Anthony Stolarz will be Wednesday’s likely starter in net ...
The Lightning had three power play goals in their 5-1 over the Rangers, bringing them to sixth in league efficiency, one spot behind the Leafs. THE NEWS Leafs are hoping this is the last game that injured defenceman Jake McCabe and centre David Kampf miss ..
. Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov with 115 points is tied with Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche atop the league at 115 points and hoping for his second straight Art Ross Trophy ..
. John Tavares’s goal Tuesday gave him 37, matching a six-year high. THE QUOTE “You love it, but in a couple of weeks (playoffs), it’s not going to happen like that.
” – coach Jon Cooper after a successful road trip, trying to keep his team on task. THE POLL Which has been the biggest surprise in the Atlantic Division this year? 1. The hot Canadiens in playoff hunt 2.
The Boston’ Bruins’ crash and burn 3. Tampa Bay surviving loss of Steve Stamkos. 4.
Detroit on the cusp of elimination again. THE PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP Matthew Knies Auston Matthews Mitch Marner Bobby McMann John Tavares William Nylander Scott Laughton Max Domi Calle Jarnkrok Steven Lorentz Pontus Holmberg Nick Robertson Defence Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Chris Tanev Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo Simon Benoit – Philippe Myers Goal Anthony Stolarz Joseph Woll Injuries Toronto: D Jake McCabe (undisclosed), C David Kampf (upper body), LW Max Pacioretty (lower body), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee). Tampa Bay No injuries.
THE PREDICTION Leafs, with a record of 4-0-1 in the second game of back-to-backs in the New Year, add another win 4-3 in overtime. [email protected] X: @sunhornby.
