The United Center plays host to an East-West showdown as the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. NBC Sports Chicago will showcase the action, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 21.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Chicago is 4-3 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2017-18 season (33-49). Of its seven games this season, five have gone over the total, while one has gone under and none have pushed. So far this year, the team is 1-2 SU at home.
The Hawks have successfully found the net on 8.7 percent of their power play opportunities thus far. That’s a big drop-off from last season, when they were ranked 28th in the league by scoring on 16.0 percent of their extra-man opportunities. Their penalty kill has fallen off significantly year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 78.8 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 20th overall last season) to 71.4 percent this year.
The Blackhawks, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.1 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 3.3, the fifth-best figure in the league. After serving an average of 7.5 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for 6.3 minutes per matchup this season.
With a .879 save percentage and 30.4 saves per game, Cam Ward (three wins, two losses, and two OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Hawks this year. If head coach Joel Quenneville decides to give him the night off, however, Chicago might turn to Corey Crawford (1-1-1 record, .941 save percentage, 2.05 goals against average).
Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane will each look to continue their strong starts for the Blackhawks. DeBrincat (11 points) is up to seven goals and four assists while Kane has seven goals and four assists to his name so far in the season’s early going.
On the other hand, Tampa Bay is 4-2 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.1 units this season. A total of four of its matches have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed.
The Bolts have recorded a goal on 24.0 percent of their power play chances this year after successfully converting on 24.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (which ranked them fourth league-wide in that category). The team’s gone from successfully defending 75.9 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 28th overall last season) to 100.0 percent this year.
Tampa Bay’s players have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game this season. Last season, that number was at 4.1, which was the fifth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 9.3 minutes per matchup this year.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.15 goals against average and .933 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Tampa Bay. Vasilevskiy is averaging 30.8 saves per game and owns a 3-2-1 record.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Lightning will be Yanni Gourde (three goals, four assists) and J.T. Miller (two goals, four assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
After posting a 6-2 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Tampa Bay is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Chicago was 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The over has hit in four of Chicago’s last five outings.
Tampa Bay has managed 31.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago is averaging 38.3 shots per game over its last five at home.
Tampa Bay skaters registered 22.6 hits per game last season, while the Blackhawks logged 16.8 hits per contest.
+++++
