NHL Showdown: Lightning vs. Maple Leafs Headline Nine-Game Monday Slate

TAMPA, Fla. — The NHL delivered a packed schedule Monday, featuring nine games highlighted by a marquee matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. The game, televised nationally in the U.S. and Canada, showcased two of the league’s top scorers and carried significant implications for the Atlantic Division standings.

The Lightning’s forward ranks third in the NHL with 68 points (21 goals, 47 assists) in 42 games, while the Maple Leafs’ forward sits fifth with 64 points (14 goals, 50 assists) in 47 games. Toronto (29-16-2) leads the division, while Tampa Bay (25-16-3) trails by seven points, narrowly holding onto third place ahead of the Ottawa Senators.

In another key matchup, the St. Louis Blues faced the Vegas Golden Knights, with goaltenders Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill squaring off ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Binnington, with a 12-17-3 record and a 2.83 goals-against average, will compete against Hill, who boasts an 18-8-2 record and a 2.56 GAA. The Golden Knights won their first meeting this season, 4-3, on Oct. 11.

The Minnesota Wild, struggling with three consecutive losses, visited the Colorado Avalanche in a Central Division clash. The Avalanche, led by their high-powered offense, defeated the Wild 6-1 in their last meeting on Jan. 9. Colorado’s center leads the league with 73 points, while their defenseman tops all blueliners with 52 points.

Elsewhere, the San Jose Sharks‘ rookie sensation, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, returned to Boston, where he starred for Boston University last season. The 18-year-old forward has 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 36 games, ranking third among rookies.

The Buffalo Sabres faced the Seattle Kraken, who have dominated the series since joining the NHL in 2021-22, holding a 6-1-0 record against Buffalo. The Columbus Blue Jackets, riding a 6-0-1 streak, took on the New York Islanders, while the Carolina Hurricanes visited the Chicago Blackhawks, with a veteran defenseman set to play his 1,300th NHL game.

In the late games, the Winnipeg Jets, boasting the league’s highest-scoring offense with 165 goals, faced the Utah Hockey Club. The Los Angeles Kings hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins, aiming to extend their strong home record, allowing fewer than two goals per game at home.