Two clubs considered by many to be the strongest in the National Hockey League, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena for an East-West tilt. The action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, and it’s being televised live on TVA Sports.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators Odds
Tampa Bay is 32-15 straight up (SU) and has earned 8.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 47 regular season contests, 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Lightning team is 15-9 SU on the road.
Tampa Bay has converted on 24.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 19th in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.1 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Bolts have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.7 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (28-12-2) has been the best option in goal for Tampa Bay this season. Vasilevskiy did just play last night, however, so Tampa Bay could opt to rest him and instead turn to Louis Domingue (1-7 record, .870 save percentage, 4.02 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov has 61 points on 27 goals and 34 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 20 different games. Stamkos has 17 goals and 37 assists to his name, and has notched a point in 32 games.
On the other side of the rink, Nashville is 28-17 straight up (SU) and has netted 8.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 23 of its outings have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and none have pushed. This season, the team is 16-6 SU as the home team.
The Predators have converted on 23.3 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.3 percent of all penalties.
Predators skaters have been called for penalties 5.0 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Pekka Rinne (29.3 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for the Predators. Rinne has 23 wins, 11 losses, and three OT losses to his name and has registered a 2.42 goals against average and a .925 save percentage this season.
The Preds offense will be led by P.K. Subban (10 goals, 24 assists) and Filip Forsberg (15 goals, 19 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Nashville Predators Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Nashville is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Tampa Bay is 2-2 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Nashville’s last five games.
Nashville is putting up 3.1 goals per game over its five-game winning streak.
