Amalie Arena plays host to a divisional showdown as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the visiting Boston Bruins. The matchup will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 17, and you can watch it live on New England Sports Network.
Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay enters the contest as the heavy favorite with a -165 moneyline. The line for Boston sits at +145 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
The Lightning are 48-22 straight up (SU) and have earned 11.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, ranked first in the league so far in the early season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during the 2016-17 season (42-40). Of its 70 games this season, 45 have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 25-9 SU at home.
Tampa Bay enters the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 24.4 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over its last five games total, and 4.0 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to defend opposition power plays for 9.8 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
With a .923 save percentage and 29.6 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (40-17-3) has been the primary option in goal for the Lightning this year. If head coach Jon Cooper decides to rest him, however, the team may roll with Louis Domingue (5-10-10 record, .884 save percentage, 3.67 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will each look to continue their strong seasons for the Lightning. Kucherov (91 points) has produced 34 goals and 57 assists and has recorded two or more points 28 times this year. Stamkos has 27 goals and 55 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 48 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Boston is 44-25 straight up (SU) and has netted 8.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 69 regular season matches, 36 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team, Boston is 19-14 SU.
Boston has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Boston’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over their last five match ups total, and 4.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays 10.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Tuukka Rask (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Boston. Rask owns a 29-16-4 record, and has registered a .917 save percentage and 2.35 goals against average this year.
Brad Marchand (30 goals, 42 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Bruins.
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Four of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 4-0 in those games and 6-2 overall in shootouts this year.
The total has gone over in four of Tampa Bay’s last five outings.
Boston has managed 34.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Tampa Bay is averaging 38.6 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Boston skaters have accounted for the league’s seventh-most hits per game (23.9).
*****
