The Scotiabank Saddledome is playing host an East-West clash as the Calgary Flames welcome the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. This one gets started at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 1 and it will air live on Sportsnet 360.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames Odds
Tampa Bay enters the game as the narrow favorite with a -115 moneyline. The line for Calgary sits at -105, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
Tampa Bay is 34-16 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 9.9 units this season. Through 50 regular season outings, 29 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Lightning team is 17-10 SU on the road.
Tampa Bay has converted on 23.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it has successfully killed off 79.0 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Tampa Bay has been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 4.2 per game over its last five matchups total, and 4.2 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.9 saves per game with a .931 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (29-12-2) has been the best option in goal for Tampa Bay this season. If it decides to rest him, however, Tampa Bay may turn to Louis Domingue (2-8 record, .880 save percentage, 3.81 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov (64 points) has tallied 27 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded two or more points 21 times. Stamkos has 18 goals and 40 assists to his name, and has notched at least one point in 34 games.
On the other side of the rink, Calgary is 25-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 50 regular season contests, 27 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 12-15 SU as the home team.
Calgary has converted on just 17.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
Calgary skaters have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 5.4 per game over their last ten match ups. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 16.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Mike Smith (29.2 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for Calgary. Smith has 21 wins, 21 losses, and six OT losses and has maintained a .925 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Johnny Gaudreau (15 goals, 42 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in three of Calgary’s last five games.
Tampa Bay has managed 26.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Calgary is averaging 31.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
The Flames are 9-11 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Lightning are 10-3 SU when they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Two of Calgary’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-5 overall in shootouts this year.
Calgary has created 9.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 8.5 takeaways per game (ranked 7th in the league).
Tampa Bay has averaged 7.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 7.3 takeaways per game (ranked 16th in the NHL).
