In a game that features two teams that have started the season off strongly, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning collide at Amalie Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. Fox Sports Sun will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 16.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay (-180) is currently the favorite over Carolina (+160), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
Carolina is 4-2 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 1.9 units this season. That SU winning percentage, ranked fifth in the NHL so far in this young season, represents a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (36-46). Through six regular season outings, Three of its games has gone over the total, while another three have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team in 2018-19, the Canes are 2-1 SU.
The Hurricanes have converted on 9.5 percent of their power play chances thus far. That’s a fairly big drop-off from last season, when they were ranked 22nd in the NHL by converting on 18.3 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has fallen off drastically since last year, as they’ve gone from successfully defending 77.5 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 24th overall last season) to 66.7 percent this year.
The Canes, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game in the 2018-19 season. Last year, that number was the lowest mark in the league at 2.7 penalties per game. After serving an average of 6.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for 8.3 minutes per outing this season.
Sporting a .900 save percentage and 24.0 saves per game, Curtis McElhinney (3-0) has been the best option in goal for Carolina this season. If Carolina decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Petr Mrazek (1-2-1), who has a .870 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho and Justin Williams will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Hurricanes. Aho has 11 points on four goals and seven assists this season while Williams has one goal and six assists to his credit through the early phase of the regular season.
Over on the other bench, Tampa Bay is 2-1 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through three regular season matches, two of its games have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 2-1 SU at home thus far.
The Lightning have scored on 26.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this year after converting on 24.8 percent (ranked fourth in league) last season. They have killed off an impressive 100.0 percent of all penalties, a few points better than the 75.9 percent they posted a year ago (when they were ranked 28th in the NHL).
Tampa Bay skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.7 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.1, the fifth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.6 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 10.0 minutes per outing this season.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (32.0 saves per game) has been the top netminder in goal for the Lightning. Vasilevskiy has two wins and one loss to his name and has maintained a .950 save percentage and an outstanding 1.64 goals against average this season.
The Bolts will be led on offense by Brayden Point (three goals, one assist).
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
After going 6-2 in games decided by a shootout last year, the Lightning are off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Carolina was 3-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone over in three of Carolina’s last five games.
Carolina skaters recorded 19.5 hits per game last season, while the Lightning logged 22.6 hits per matchup.
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