The two highest-scoring teams in the NHL will face off this Thursday when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 PM ET). Not only are these two clubs at the top of the league offensively, they also sit first and second in the NHL standings. As a result, Thursday night’s matchup could be a preview of an Eastern Conference playoff showdown come spring.
There’s no hotter team in the NHL right now than the Tampa Bay Lightning. They’ve put together seven straight victories and have won 12 of their last 14 games dating back to mid-November. Led by Nikita Kucherov (12 goals, 33 assists), the Tampa roster has seven players with at least 20 points this season. With that firepower, Tampa is averaging four goals a game.
Like the Lightning, Toronto is lethal offensively. Despite having superstars John Tavares and Auston Matthews at centre, Mitch Marner leads the way in points for the Leafs with 6 goals and 35 assists through 31 games. Backed by Frederik Andersen in net, Toronto may be one of the few teams that can score with the Lightning, while also posing a significant challenge for Tampa’s offensive attack. This game will be a true measuring stick for both clubs, so be sure to catch the action.
