A first round NHL playoff matchup preview is set for Tuesday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs (48-21-11, 21-13-5 away) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (45-29-6, 27-7-5 home). Toronto is going to finish second in the Atlantic division and will host the third place Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. Below is my NHL pick for the Maple Leafs vs Lightning.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Pick

NHL Pick: Toronto Maple Leafs +110 at BetOnline

This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Why Bet the Toronto Maple Leafs:

✅ Toronto is in solid form of late as they have won four of their last six games played.

✅ The Lightning have struggled in division as they have lost six of their last seven games against the Atlantic Division.

✅ Tampa Bay is struggling to end the regular season and have lost seven of their last 10 games played.

Toronto Maple Leafs Look Good

Toronto has been good of last as they have won three of their last four games with the only loss coming in overtime to the greatest regular season team in NHL history – the Boston Bruins. This four-game stretch started with a 4-2 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets and most recently saw them win 2-1 at Florida in overtime.

Through 80 games, the Leafs are scoring 3.39 goals per game and are allowing 2.68. Auston Matthews is having a “bad” year for him, but a great year for anyone else as he leads the Maple Leafs with 40 goals and 99 points. Mitch Marner has dished out a team high 69 assists.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Looking to Get it Going

Tampa has hit a rough patch at the wrong time as they have lost seven of their last 10 games played and enter this game losing three in a row. This three-game losing streak started with a 6-3 loss at the New York Rangers and ended with a 7-4 defeat in Ottawa. It was a tough three-game road trip and the Lightning will look to get things going at home.

After 80 games, the Lightning are scoring 3.40 goals per game and allow 3.10. Nikita Kucherov is having a monster season as he leads Tampa Bay with 80 assists and 110 points. Brayden Point has scored a team high 49 goals.