Jan 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs centre Fraser Minten (39) battles for the puck in front of the net with Tampa Bay Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons (28) during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Game Seventy-eight: Toronto Maple Leafs (47-25-4) at Tampa Bay Lightning (45-26-6)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Amalie Arena

TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, SN, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning

Know the Opponents: Pension Plan Puppets

While the Atlantic Division is still yet to be decided (welcome to the playoffs Ottawa) the logistics required to facilitate a first-round meeting between the Lightning and the Maple Leafs is a bit convoluted. It could happen, but it’s more likely not to. So, why did we call this a potential postseason preview? Because, for the first time in a few nights, the Lightning have something to play for.

Yes, stacking up wins was important prior to tonight, but win or lose (and they did both) it wasn’t really going to change their spot in the standings. Tonight is a bit different. There is a brass ring to grab, and it’s not just two points in the standings. A regulation win tonight propels the Lightning into a tie at the top (with, if we’re doing the math correctly, the tiebreaker in hand).

The players and the coaches will tell us that just making the playoffs is the important part, and that they don’t really care where they finish in the standings, but this year, home ice could be of paramount importance, especially for the Bolts, who come back from their road trip with an overall road record of 18-18-4. Plus, there is a little thing called pride and the Bolts don’t want to see a goose egg in the win column against the Maple Leafs for 2024-25 (Toronto is currently 3-0 against the Bolts this season).

So, there should be some fire in the Lightning’s start tonight. Toronto played, and lost, to the Florida Panthers last night (welcome back to the race for the top, Florida). The Bolts were off and should, theoretically, be the better rested team. They need to parlay that into a fast start.

That being said they have to be wary of team that is firing on all cylinders of late. The offense is there, the special teams is there, and the Leafs are playing defensive hockey. Ottawa and Buffalo may have been riding heaters when the Lightning faced them recently, but the Leafs are the best team the Bolts have faced in quite awhile. There is no facet of the game right now where the Bolts can relax. So that should ramp up the playoff-esque atmosphere as well.

Buckle in. We’re in the end game now, and the Lightning need to find that next gear.

Toronto5v5 Stats over Last 10 GamesTampa Bay2.87GPG3.371.80GAPG1.5742.9%PP%25.0%80.0%PK%76.0%42.84%5v5 Shot Attempt %50.89%51.67%5v5 High Danger Chances %49.10%10.96%5v5 Shooting %13.15%.9395v5 Save %.939John Tavares – 9G Leader – all situationsBrayden Point – 9Mitch Marner – 11A Leader – all situationsNikita Kucherov -15John Tavares – 14William Nylander – 14Mitch Marner – 14

Auston Matthews – 14

P Leader – all situationsNikita Kucherov – 20Max Domi – 18PIM Leader – all situationsYanni Gourde – 128-1-1Record 6-3-1

Stats via NHL and Natural Stat Trick

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Jake GuentzelBrayden PointNikita KucherovBrandon HagelAnthony CirelliGage Goncalves Nick PaulYanni GourdeOliver BjorkstrandZemgus GirgensonsLuke GlendeningMitchell Chaffee

Defense:

Victor HedmanJ.J. MoserRyan McDonaghErik CernakEmil LillebergDarren Raddysh

Goaltenders:

Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forwards:

Matthew KniesAuston MatthewsMitch MarnerBobby McMannJohn TavaresWilliam NylanderScott LaughtonMax DomiCalle JarnkrokSteven LorentzPontus HolmbergNicholas Robertson

Defense:

Morgan ReillyBrandon CarloOliver Ekman-LarssonChris TanevSimon BenoitPhilippe Myers

Goaltenders:

Anthony StolarzJoseph Woll