Amalie Arena is playing host an East-West matchup as the Calgary Flames pay a visit to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning. The match will get started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 11, and it can be seen live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
With a moneyline of -215, Tampa Bay enters the contest as the obvious favorite. The line for Calgary sits at +180, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under). After originally opening at -110 for either, those lines have shifted.
Netting moneyline bettors 12.8 units, Tampa Bay is 31-12 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, ranked first in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 42-40 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of its 43 games this season, 25 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 17-4 SU at home this year.
The Lightning come into the matchup with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 24.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
The Lightning, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 10.6 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Boasting a .933 save percentage and 28.7 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (27-9-2) has been the top option in goal for the Bolts this season. If the Bolts, however, choose to give him the night off, the team could roll with Louis Domingue (1-7-7 record, .870 save percentage, 4.02 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue to look for leadership from Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (60 points) has put up 27 goals and 33 assists and has recorded two or more points in 20 different games this year. Stamkos has 17 goals and 35 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 29 games.
Calgary is 22-20 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 23 of its contests have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Flames are 10-9 SU as a road team this season.
The Flames have converted on just 17.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
Calgary’s skaters have been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays an unhealthy 14.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Mike Smith (28.7 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Smith has 19 wins, 17 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, while registering a .921 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Flames, the offense will be coordinated by Johnny Gaudreau, who has 36 assists and 13 goals on the year.
Calgary Flames vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have ended in a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this year.
The over has hit in three of Tampa Bay’s last five outings.
Seven of Tampa Bay’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 5-2 overall in those games.
