Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs: East 1st Round Game 1 – Tuesday 7 ET on ESPN
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs: East 1st Round Game 1 – Tuesday 7 ET on ESPN. These same 2 teams met for the first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs a year ago with the Lightning winning in 7 after trailing 3 games to 2.
Tampa Bay cashed in 7 power play opportunities in the series while Toronto converted just 4-of-28 PP chances. It marked the first time Tampa Bay won a playoff series when trailing 3-2 since the 2015 First Round against Detroit.
It marked the 3rd straight series the Maple Leafs surrendered after leading the series, 3-2.
According to Stathletes, Tampa Bay generated 10 more shot attempts per game than Toronto in their 3 head-to head meetings.
But the Maple Leafs produced nearly double the scoring chances and over twice as many higher danger scoring chances.
Stathletes Head-to-Head
TB TOR
5v5 goals 5 4
Shot attempts PG 63.7 -53.7
Shots off rush PG 11.0- 12.7
Scoring chances PG 9.3- 17.3
Higher danger scoring chances PG 1.3- 3.3
Tampa Bay Lightning/Toronto Maple Leafs playoff series trends and fun facts
Teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff series have gone on to win the series 68.3 percent of the time (507-235), though Game 1 winners won only 8 of 15 series a year ago.
Toronto has lost its opening-round playoff series in 6 consecutive seasons, which ties with Carolina for the longest streak in NHL history (lost opening series from 1987-92 as Hartford Whalers).
Toronto has the 2nd-most Stanley Cup titles (13), but its 54 consecutive seasons without an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final is the longest drought in NHL history.
Toronto is 0-10 in games with a series-clinching opportunity since the 2013 playoffs. Tampa Bay is 18-12 in such games over that same span.
More on this game today on Shemon and Sheppard 2-6pm.