Monday Night Hockey on Prime continues today with an Atlantic Division battle featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025-26 season.
Monday Night Hockey: Lightning vs Maple Leafs
2024-25 Season Series: Lightning 0-4 Maple Leafs
How to Watch:
U.S. TV: The Spot; NHL Network
Canada TV: Prime (Canada); TVA Sports
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
We’re back with another Monday Night Hockey Prime edition of NHL predictions. The Tampa Bay Lightning are searching for their first victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs since April 2024. Toronto swept all four games last season, but needs another performance to get back on track.
Tampa Bay had been playing well, but has dropped the last three games entering this divisional matchup. The Lightning are in first place in the Atlantic Division, but are tied with the Boston Bruins for first in the division. A win here will hopefully get Jon Cooper’s men on the right path.
Let’s take a look at the stats and storylines heading into this Monday Night Hockey on Prime showdown. It’s a pivotal game between divisional opponents.
The Lightning Story
Tampa Bay is 7-3 in the last 10 games, but did drop three games in a row entering this matchup. Jonas Johansson is expected to get the start with Andrei Vasilevskiy‘s status uncertain. However, always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. Vasilevskiy missed Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the New York Islanders.
The injury to Vasilevskiy isn’t the only ailment the team is dealing wth. Nikita Kucherov is the team’s leader in assists (22) and points (34), but he also missed the loss to the Isles. The Russian suffered a knock, but finished Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, he did not play on Saturday despite going in the morning skate.
Brandon Hagel leads the team in goals with 17 and is second on points with 29. The injury news isn’t all doom and gloom as the captain, Victor Hedman, returned to the lineup on Saturday.
The Maple Leafs Story
Tampa Bay isn’t the only team dealing with the injury bug. Joseph Woll was the latest Toronto player to be put on injured reserve. Players like William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Matthew Knies have been in and out of the lineup at various points this season.
The Leafs are 5-3-2 in the last 10 games, but are coming off a loss to the rival Montreal Canadiens. Toronto has won three of its last four games entering this pivotal divisional game. The Leafs are three points behind the Detroit Red Wings and the Habs for third in the division.
Dennis Hildeby is the projected starter for Toronto after a strong showing on Saturday night. William Nylander is tied with Knies for first on the team in assists with 21. However, Nylander leads in points so far this campaign with 32.
Prediction
Both teams are in need of a victory after a Saturday night loss. Keep an eye on the lineup sheet for Tampa Bay because seeing Vasilevskiy and Kucherov could cause a late shift in the betting line.
If the two can’t go, the Maple Leafs should get the win at home. Hildeby was solid in the net and is hoping to build off that solid performance.
Prediction: Maple Leafs win 3-2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We close out this Monday Night Hockey on Prime edition of NHL predictions with some prop bets of the night. The over/under for this game is 5.5, and we like the under in this game.
As for individual props, take Jake Guentzel to get at least one assist for Tampa Bay. On the Toronto side of things, take John Tavares to get a power-play point.
Main photo by: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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The post Prime Monday Night Hockey: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.