Amalie Arena plays host to an Eastern Conference showdown as the Philadelphia Flyers travel to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning. NBC Sports Philadelphia will air the game, and the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Earning moneyline bettors 13.8 units, Tampa Bay is 27-9 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the NHL so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (42-40). Of the team’s 36 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 16-3 SU at home.
The Lightning enter the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve scored on 25.9 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 79.0 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Lightning have been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 5.6 per game over their last five games. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 8.6 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Boasting a .934 save percentage and 29.6 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (24-6-1) has been the primary option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. Vasilevskiy did just play last night, however, so Tampa Bay could decide to give him the night off and instead go with Peter Budaj (3-3-3 record, .878 save percentage, 3.67 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both lead the way for the Lightning. Kucherov (52 points) has tallied 24 goals and 28 assists and has recorded multiple points on 18 separate occasions this year. Stamkos has 15 goals and 32 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 24 contests.
Philadelphia is 15-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 37 regular season contests, 18 of its games have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Flyers are 7-11 SU as a road team this season.
The Flyers have converted on 18.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all penalties.
Philadelphia’s skaters have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last ten outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 5.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott (2.61 goals against average and .915 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott is averaging 27.6 saves per game and has 13 wins, 17 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit.
For the visiting Flyers, the offense will run through Jakub Voracek (eight goals, 36 assists) and Claude Giroux (13 goals, 30 assists).
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Six of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 6-0 overall in those games.
Philadelphia has averaged 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but is down to 1.7 goals per contest over its last three games (0-3 SU over that span).
Power plays and penalty kills could have a critical role in the outcome of this game. The Flyers are 6-8 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 11-10 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Lightning are 16-4 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 14-4 in games where their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Tampa Bay is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Philadelphia is 0-3 in shootouts.
Tampa Bay might have an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 11-5 in games decided by one goal, while Philadelphia is 5-13 in such games.
The total has gone over in three of Tampa Bay’s last five outings.
Tampa Bay has allowed 2.4 goals per game overall this season, but has allowed just 1.3 per matchup on its three-game winning streak.
Tampa Bay is ranked 9th this season with 8.4 giveaways per game. That figure has improved lately, however, as it’s averaged 6.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.6 giveaways over its last five.
Philadelphia skaters have averaged 11.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 19th in the NHL).
