Lightning Strikes Twice? Tampa's Win Hasn’t Convinced Oddsmakers Hours Before Face-Off

"The Lightning's unexpected 7 – 3 triumph over the Maple Leafs was a shock to bettors," says Tim Williams, spokesperson for BetUS. "The Lightning were actually 1.5-point (+175) underdogs on the puck line. But not only did they cover, they came out victorious,” Williams says. “Even more notable was the fact that early betting action at BetUS.com was over 90% on Toronto, though that number pulled back to about 70% by face-off. Still, the Bolts' victory proved favorable for our sportsbook.” 

So what has the Bolts’ surprise victory in Game 1 done to the betting odds? “Surprisingly little,” Williams says.  

That’s because the betting line on tonight’s game is almost identical to that of Game 1, with the Lightning once again finding themselves as 1.5-point underdogs on the puck line (priced at –200) and +145 underdogs on the moneyline, or outright winner. “These are almost the exact same odds we saw in Game 1, which means oddsmakers weren’t moved by the Bolts’ Game 1 victory,” Williams says. 

As we gear up for Game 2, keep an eye on the Leafs' hunger for redemption, which could see a high-scoring, aggressive game. Meanwhile, the Lightning, charged by their recent win, might adopt a more strategic and defensively focused approach. 

Both squads boast powerhouse scorers like Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs) and Steven Stamkos (Lightning), hinting at an exhilarating, high-scoring showdown. "Though the Maple Leafs remain favored, this is a really tough call," warns Williams. “I’d personally have to take either the Leafs on the puck line because it is paying plus money (+170) right now, or the Bolts on the moneyline which is currently at +165.” 

“Either way I think we could see a real barn burner here,” Williams concludes. 

BetUS not only offers puck line and money line bets but also serves up a smorgasbord of wagering options such as player prop bets and over/under bets on total game scores.