With a do-or-die Game 7 set for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, there will be a ton of pressure on the Leafs to beat the reigning champs at home. Ahead of the Maple Leafs-Lightning showdown, we'll be making our Game 7 predictions.

After suffering a heartbreaking overtime loss to Tampa Bay in Game 6, Toronto will look to bounce back with a statement win at home on Saturday night. Led by Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mark Giordano and Ondrej Kase, the Leafs are hoping to close out the Bolts at home and advance to the second round. This will be crucial for them as they aim to win their first playoff series since 2004.

Here are our Maple Leafs predictions for Saturday's Game 7.

Toronto Maple Leafs Game 7 Predictions

3. Auston Matthews will have a career night 

As a finalist for this year's Hart Trophy and the driving force behind Toronto's success this season, Matthews is bound to have a big night for the Maple Leafs in a crucial Game 7.

With six shots on goal and one score in Game 6, Matthews will most assuredly be revving up his play on offense while also making some key defensive stops for the Leafs. His all-out effort will be vital to their performance on Saturday night and could be the determining factor in them advancing to the second round.

2. Ilya Mikheyev and David Kampf will have strong performances 

After being essential non-factors in their overtime loss in Game 6, the Maple Leafs will need stronger contributions from Ilya Mikheyev and David Kampf. Both players have played a major part in their previous wins in this series and after quiet nights on Thursday, they're bound to take things up a few notches.

Their scoring, playmaking, and tenacity have done wonders for the Maple Leafs this season, and will be a real difference-maker for Toronto in tonight's decisive Game 7.

1. The Maple Leafs will lose to the Lightning in Game 7 

Although they've played valiantly and fought tooth and nail with the Lightning every step of the way, it doesn't seem like the Maple Leafs will be able to knock off the reigning champs at home. There is some truth in knowing that you can never underestimate the heart of a champion and considering that Tampa Bay's won back-to-back Stanley Cup's, it's not like they'll go quietly with a first-round exit.

The star-studded lineup featuring Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat will be too much for the Maple Leafs to handle. In what's been a constant back-and-forth throughout this thrilling matchup, the Lighting are hoping to be the first team in this series to win back-to-back games while advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Maple Leafs will definitely put up a hefty fight and not let up, but it won't be enough to hold off this determined Lightning squad. Currently gunning for a championship three-peat, the Bolts will come firing right out of the gate and have their sights set on overtaking the Leafs in Game 7.