Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, and the Detroit Red Wings are set to do battle against Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in a divisional showdown. The match will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 29 and it can be seen live on Fox Sports Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay is 19-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a regression from the 62-20 record that the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 36 regular season outings, 21 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 13 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 11-9 SU at home this season.
The Lightning come into the matchup with the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 29.2 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.2 percent of all penalties.
With a .908 save percentage and 28.1 saves per game, Andrei Vasilevskiy (16-11-2) has been the primary option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. Vasilevskiy did just play last night, however, so Tampa Bay could decide to give him a rest and instead turn to Curtis McElhinney (3-6-6 record, .903 save percentage, 3.45 goals against average).
On the other hand, Detroit is 9-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 39 regular season outings, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under the total and just five have pushed. The Red Wings are 4-15 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Red Wings have converted on just 16.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 32nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 72.4 percent of all penalties.
Jonathan Bernier (3.24 goals against average and .897 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Bernier is averaging 25.3 saves per game and owns a 7-16-2 record.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Over Detroit’s last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-7 in those games).
- The Red Wings are 5-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 7-20 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in four of their past five outings.
- Detroit is ranked 28th this season with 12.5 giveaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as it’s averaged 13.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 16.2 giveaways over its last five.
- Tampa Bay has averaged 7.6 giveaways per game (ranked 2nd).
- The Lightning this season have registered the ninth-most hits in the league (23.4 per game).
