The Tampa Bay Lightning will make the trip up North to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs for Game 1 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup on Monday, May 2. With the stakes raised, two of the best teams in hockey are set to collide for what will be a can't-miss first-round playoff series, featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. We're back with our NHL odds series with a Lightning-Maple Leafs prediction and pick.

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Here are the Lightning-Maple Leafs NHL Odds, Courtesy of FanDuel

NHL Playoffs Odds: Lightning-Maple Leafs Odds

Tampa Bay Lightning: +1.5 (-235) (+105 ML)

Toronto Maple Leafs: -1.5 (+190) (-122 ML)

Over: 6.5 (+100)

Under: 6.5 (-122)

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Why The Lightning Can Cover the Spread/Win

The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking to pull off the never-before-seen Stanley Cup three-peat. They've been handed a tough first-round matchup in the Maple Leafs, but there's hardly a hotter team in hockey right now than Tampa Bay. In their last 10 games, Tampa is 7-2-1, having been propelled by the insane play of star duo Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. In the month of April alone, Stamkos led the NHL with 33 points, while Kucherov was second with 31. No other player in the league had more than 25 points in the month. With their two star veterans playing some of the best hockey of their careers heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Lightning could look to overwhelm Toronto on offense and steal a win on the road.

Additionally, Tampa Bay will also have the advantage between the sticks. Andrei Vasilevskiy is a vastly superior goaltender than Jack Campbell, which could end up being a pivotal role in the outcome of this matchup. Campbell has struggled throughout the year and remains the biggest question mark for the Maple Leafs in the series. If Tampa Bay can avoid giving up too many Power Plays to Toronto, they'll have a big chance of pulling off a Game 1 win.

Why The Maple Leafs Can Cover The Spread/Win

The absolute last thing the Toronto Maple Leafs need is another first-round playoff exit. Toronto hasn't advanced past the opening round of the playoffs in any of its previous five trips to the postseason, something clearly weighing heavily upon the fanbase. It's time for a change in Toronto, and with Auston Matthews coming off the best goalscoring season of his career, there's no better time for the Maple Leafs to stage a deep run. That all starts with taking care of business on their home ice, and they'll look to make a statement in Game 1 by doing just that.

Matthews' 60 goals in 71 games this season is the most a player has scored since Stamkos' reached 60 in 2012. He and Mitch Marner will look to keep up their prolific play on the offensive end and make things tough for Vasilveskiy in the net. If Toronto gets on the Power Play, expect a barrage of shots on net from Matthews, and it's more than likely that one of them manages to squeeze its way past Vasilevskiy. Matthews is the clear X-factor for Toronto, and his performance in Game 1 will be crucial toward the outcome.

Final Lightning-Maple Leafs Prediction & Pick

This is a truly difficult matchup to call, as both teams enter the fray in great form and with a ton to prove. Each side is being propelled by its own narrative, as Toronto looks to escape its long-standing drought while Tampa is in position to make NHL history with a three-peat. While getting plus odds on a Lightning Moneyline is always an intriguing option, it's a risky play considering they'll be on the road in Toronto. The last time these teams met in Toronto, Tampa Bay managed a 5-3 victory. The Lightning also dominated the Maple Leafs in their most-recent matchup in Tampa, winning 8-1 at the end of April. Considering these are two high-octane offenses, we're going to roll the dice on the over in this one, especially at plus odds. These two teams have gone over 6.5 in each of their previous three matchups, and we're expecting them to do it again tonight.

Final Maple Leafs-Lightning Prediction and Pick: Over 6.5 (+100)