As a hockey fan, I’m excited to delve into the Lightning Round, where we’ll explore whether the Tampa Bay Lightning have the ability to catch up to the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the NHL season in full swing, these two teams have shown their prowess on the ice, but will the Lightning be able to close the gap in points? Join me as we analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, and try to predict who will come out on top.
Introduction
The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a solid start to their 2021-2022 NHL season. Sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division with a 14-4 record, many fans are wondering if they can catch up to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been on fire this season. This lightning round will examine the possibility of the Bolts catching the Leafs and what it will take for them to do so.
Toronto’s Strong Start
Toronto has been nothing short of dominant so far this season. With a record of 16-5, they have already collected 32 points and have the second-best record in the league. Led by Auston Matthews, who has 17 goals and 11 assists in just 20 games, the Leafs have been scoring at will, averaging 3.6 goals per game. Their defense has also been solid, giving up just 2.6 goals per game.
Can Tampa Catch Toronto?
While it will not be easy, the Lightning do have a chance of catching Toronto. They have already beaten them once this season in a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory. The Bolts are also getting healthier, with star players such as Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman returning from injury. However, they will need to play at their best consistently to keep up with Toronto.
Offense
Both Toronto and Tampa Bay have high powered offenses that can take over a game. However, Toronto has a slight edge in this category. As mentioned earlier, they are averaging 3.6 goals per game, while the Lightning are averaging 3.2 goals per game. Matthews and Mitch Marner have been putting up staggering numbers, and the depth of the Leafs’ offense has been exceptional. Although Tampa has great scoring depth and talent with the likes of Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos, Toronto currently has the edge in this department.
Defense
Both teams have been solid defensively, but the Lightning have a slight edge in this area. Tampa Bay is giving up just 2.2 goals per game compared to Toronto’s 2.6 goals per game. The Bolts have a strong defensive core led by Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, and Mikhail Sergachev, which can shut down even the best offensive teams in the league. Toronto’s defense has been good, but has had a few hiccups along the way, allowing opponents to score three or more goals in seven games this season.
Goaltending
The goaltending matchup between these two teams is interesting to look at. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been one of the NHL’s most consistent and dominant goalies over the past few seasons. He has a save percentage of .931 and 1.89 goals-against average through 17 games. Toronto’s Jack Campbell has also been solid, with a save percentage of .924 and a 2.16 goals-against average, but has played five fewer games than Vasilevskiy. Ultimately, both teams have excellent goaltending, but with Vasilevskiy’s proven track record, Tampa Bay has the edge in this category.
Conclusion
The question remains, can the Lightning catch the Maple Leafs? The simple answer is yes, they certainly can. Tampa Bay has the talent, depth, and experience to hang with any team in the NHL. However, they will need to play their best hockey consistently and stay healthy to keep pace with Toronto. The Maple Leafs have been dominant so far this season, but there are still many games left to play, and anything can happen in hockey. It will be an exciting divisional race to watch as the season unfolds, and the Lightning will certainly be in the mix until the very end.
