The New Jersey Devils look to even the series at one game apiece at Amalie Arena in Game 2 of the opening round of the NHL Playoffs. NBC will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 14.
New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay (-245) is currently the favorite over New Jersey (+205), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Earning 9.0 units for moneyline bettors, Tampa Bay is 55-28 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league so far in the early season, is a solid improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (42-40). Among its 83 games this season, 50 have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 30-12 SU at home this year.
The Lightning enter the matchup with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 24.3 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 28th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 75.8 percent of all penalties.
The Lightning, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five matchups home outings. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for just 5.2 minutes per game over their last five matchups, overall.
Averaging 29.3 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (45-21-3) has been the best goalkeeper for Tampa Bay this year. If Tampa Bay decides to rest him, however, head coach Jon Cooper might go with Louis Domingue (7-12-12 record, .894 save percentage, 3.41 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will each be focal points for the Lightning. Kucherov (101 points) has tallied 40 goals and 61 assists and has recorded multiple points in 31 different games this year. Stamkos has 27 goals and 60 assists to his name and has notched a point in 52 contests.
New Jersey is 44-39 straight up (SU) and has earned 11.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. A total of 43 of its contests have gone over the total, while 38 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Devils are 21-21 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Devils have converted on 21.7 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked eighth overall and it’s successfully defended 81.5 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.7 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Keith Kinkaid (27.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for New Jersey. Kinkaid has 26 wins, 16 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, while registering a .912 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Devils will be Taylor Hall, who’s got 40 goals and 55 assists this year.
New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
58.2 percent of Tampa Bay’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 32-17 overall in such games) while 43.2 percent of New Jersey’s wins have come by two goals or more (19-22 overall in such games).
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