T-Mobile Arena will play host to an East-West tilt as the first-year franchise Vegas Golden Knights welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sportsnet ONE will showcase the action, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 19.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vegas Golden Knights Odds
Tampa Bay (+110) is playing the role of underdog to Tampa Bay (-130) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Tampa Bay is 24-8 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 13.2 units this year. 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Lightning team is 11-5 SU on the road.
Tampa Bay enters the match up with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 27.6 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
The Bolts, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 30.2 saves per game with a .934 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (21-5-1) has been the top option in goal for Tampa Bay this season. If head coach Jon Cooper chooses to rest him, however, Tampa Bay might turn to Peter Budaj (3-3-1 record, .878 save percentage, 3.67 goals against average).
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both lead the way for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov has 46 points on 23 goals and 23 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 15 different games. Stamkos has 12 goals and 31 assists to his nameand has logged at least one point in 23 games.
Vegas is 21-11 straight up (SU) and has earned 13.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. 20 of its matches have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 13-3 SU at home this year.
The Golden Knights have converted on just 18.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 21st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.2 percent of all opponent power plays.
Golden Knights players have been called for penalties only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Maxime Lagace has denied 23.9 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Golden Knights. Lagace has seven wins, seven losses, and one OT loss and has maintained a subpar .872 save percentage and 3.79 goals against average this season.
The Knights offense will be led by Jonathan Marchessault (11 goals, 18 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vegas Golden Knights Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Vegas is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Tampa Bay is 1-1 in shootouts.
Tampa Bay has managed 29.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Vegas has been attempting 35.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
Over Tampa Bay’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 6-1 in those games).
