Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will do battle against Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. The game gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 6 and it can be viewed live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
The Lightning (-165) are currently solidly favored over the Penguins (+145), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-135 to bet the over, +115 for the under).
Netting 0.7 units for moneyline bettors, Tampa Bay is 33-20 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league in this young season, is a regression from the 62-20 record that the team posted during the 2018-19 season campaign. Through 53 regular season outings, 28 of its games have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 16-9 SU at home this year.
The Lightning have converted on 25.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.0 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 28.2 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (27 wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Bolts this year. If the Bolts decide to give him a rest, however, head coach Jon Cooper may roll with Curtis McElhinney (6-8-8 record, .909 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
Pittsburgh has earned 9.6 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 33-19 straight up (SU). 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, the Penguins are 14-11 SU so far.
The Penguins have converted on 19.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Tristan Jarry (27.2 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. Jarry owns a 17-9-1 record, and has registered a .928 save percentage and 2.19 goals against average this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The Lightning are 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Penguins are 3-0 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
- Pittsburgh’s attempted 32.2 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 27.0 in its last 10 games.
- Five of Tampa Bay’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 4-1 overall in those games.
- This game features two of the more physical defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the third-most hits in the league (28.4 per game) and the Bolts have recorded the 10th-most (22.8).
