Two squads that are squarely in playoff contention, the Winnipeg Jets and the Tampa Bay Lightning clash at Amalie Arena for an East-West tilt. CiTV will showcase the game, and the opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 9.
Winnipeg Jets at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay (-180) is currently favored over Winnipeg (+160), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -120 under, +100 over.
The Lightning are 20-8 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 9.2 units this year. 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. Through 28 regular season outings, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 12-3 SU at home this season.
Tampa Bay enters the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 28.3 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over its last five outings home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.7 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 30.6 saves per game with a .932 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (18-5-1) has been the top goalkeeper for the Lightning this season. If they, however, decide to give him a breather, head coach Jon Cooper may turn to Peter Budaj (2-3-3 record, .881 save percentage, 3.40 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue to rely on offensive production from Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Stamkos (41 points) has put up 12 goals and 29 assists and has recorded two or more points in 11 different games this year. Kucherov has 19 goals and 21 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 22 games.
On the other side of the rink, Winnipeg is 17-12 straight up (SU) and has earned 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 29 regular season contests, 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. As the road team so far, Winnipeg is 7-9 SU.
Winnipeg has scored on 26.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg’s players have been whistled for penalties 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 5.2 per game over their last five match ups. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays 9.2 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Connor Hellebuyck (2.44 goals against average and .921 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck is averaging 27.0 saves per game and owns a 15-8-3 record.
For the visiting Jets, the offense will run through Blake Wheeler (eight goals, 29 assists) and Mark Scheifele (14 goals, 20 assists).
Winnipeg Jets at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
Penalties and power plays could prove to be key tonight. The Jets are 7-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-5 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Lightning are 12-4 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-4 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Tampa Bay skaters have created 8.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 7.8 takeaways per game (ranked 14th in the NHL).
Winnipeg is ranked 19th overall with 6.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as it has created 5.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.0 takeaways over its last five.
