Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, and the Calgary Flames will do battle against Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in a cross-continent showdown. Fox Sports Sun will showcase the matchup, and the opening face-off is at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 29.
Calgary Flames vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Moneyline and Over/Under (O/U) odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Earning 0.8 units for moneyline bettors, Tampa Bay is 40-24 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league in this young season, is a regression from the 62-20 record that the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Among its 64 games this season, 33 have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just four have pushed. This year, the team is 20-11 SU at home.
The Lightning have been able to convert on 22.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.1 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .915 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (32-15-3) has been the top option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. If the Bolts, however, choose to give him a breather, Tampa Bay may roll with Curtis McElhinney (8-9-9 record, .908 save percentage, 2.83 goals against average).
Calgary has lost 6.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 33-32 straight up (SU). A total of 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under the total and just five have pushed. The Flames are 19-16 SU as a road team this season.
The Flames have converted on 20.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked seventh overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all opponent power plays.
David Rittich (27.9 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Calgary. Rittich has 24 wins, 22 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .908 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average this year.
Calgary Flames vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The Flames (6-1 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. The Lightning, however, emerged victorious in both of its shootouts this year.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in four of their last five games.
- Eight of Calgary’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-2 in those games.
- The Bolts this season have tallied the eighth-most hits per game in the NHL (23.7), but that average has jumped up to 31.4 over their past five games as the home team.
