Will the Maple Leafs advance to Round 2? theScore Bet special
The 2023 NHL playoffs don't begin for another week, but one matchup is already set in stone.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will once again square off against the Tampa Bay Lightning - coming off their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance - as Toronto tries to get that elusive first-round victory.
theScore Bet is offering a special in advance of the highly anticipated series.
π TAP HERE to visit Toronto Maple Leafs Specials on theScore Bet
Maple Leafs to advance beyond Round 1 (-140)
Since the Auston Matthews-led core was first assembled, the Maple Leafs have made the postseason six straight times. They lost in the opening round every time, with the each series going the distance.
The Maple Leafs have had at least one chance - sometimes multiple - to put their opponent out five years running, but they just haven't been able to get the job done.
Although the current roster is taking the brunt of the blame for a lack of playoff success, nobody has been able to achieve that with the Maple Leafs for nearly two decades. The Maple Leafs last advanced past the first round of the playoffs in 2003-04. The following season was lost to the lockout, and the team hasn't made noise in the postseason since.
While the Maple Leafs will have plenty of doubters until they do manage to advance, there is reason to believe things could be different this time. Despite some ups and downs following all of Kyle Dubas' deadline moves, the Maple Leafs profile extremely well statistically. They rank fifth in goal share and fourth in expected goals for the season.
The Lightning lag well behind in both categories, slotting 13th and 18th, respectively. They are trending downward, too, having posted some alarming numbers over the past 25 games.
In that span, the Lightning scored 43% of the goals, sandwiching them between the tanking Chicago Blackhawks and a Washington Capitals team that has won only six of its past 25.
This version of the Lightning looks more vulnerable than past editions. That said, they are a talented veteran squad that will surely take things up a notch in the postseason.
Whether you believe the Maple Leafs will get the monkey off their back or stumble in crushing fashion once again, theScore Bet has you covered.
π TAP HERE to visit Toronto Maple Leafs Specials on theScore Bet
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