At the beginning of the season the Penguins and Lightning were understandable top chalks to win the Eastern Conference. Certainly, both teams are perennial contenders with recent runs that enhance their NHL Betting online credibility. Pittsburgh won Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. In the same way Tampa Bay made the Eastern Conference Final last spring. Further they made the 2015 Stanley Cup Final. Now only the Lightning can boast the championship look. Pittsburgh has become quite a slumping overlay with an unreliable back end. On this occasion gamblers concerns about Pittsburgh’s inability to shut down opponents are quite legitimate.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Date and Time: Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 8 p.m. ET
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NHL Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click Here!
Lightning vs. Penguins TV Coverage: NBCSN
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh has lost three of their last four games. Now their NHL betting online Record is 26-16-4-2. The Pens have gone over the total in four of their last five games. Consequently, they rank firth in the NHL for goal scoring and power play. Offsetting that is an NHL rank of 17th for goals against and fourth for penalty killing.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Late results show Tampa Bay in good form with seven wins in their last 10 games. The Lightning are now 37-10-2 with the best record in the NHL. Tampa Bay is the top goal scoring and power play team in the league. Comparable numbers are 10th for goals against and sixth for the penalty kill.
Important Names on the Ice
Naturally center and team captain Sidney Crosby continues to lead Pittsburgh. Sid the Kid has 21 goals with 36 assists and a plus 19. Additional support comes from center Jake Guentzel’s 24 goals. Supplementing Tampa Bay is right wing Nikita Kucherov’s 22 goals and 56 assists. Lightning center Brayden Point has 30 goals.
Stats to Consider
In this situation Tampa Bay could provide exceptional value as a road team. The Bolts have visited the payout window in 12 of their last 16 games on away ice. Eight of their last 11 road tilts went over the total. Along the same lines Pittsburgh remains a top betting play on home ice. The Penguins have paid in 10 of their last 13 games at PPG Arena. Just two of their last six home matchups went over the total.
Team vs. Team
Tampa Bay has had the recent sportsbook advantage in their series with the Penguins. As an example, the Lighting have won three of the last four meetings. The last seven games between these teams went over the total. However, at PPG Arena the Penguins have fared much better. Pittsburgh has paid in four of their last five on home ice against the Lightning. And the last four games in this series at PPG Arena have gone over the total.
Matchup to Watch
Home ice is the NHL Betting online matchup advantage in this one. Despite the fact that Pittsburgh has slumped they remain strong at home. It also helps that Penguins goaltender Matt Murray has played much better since returning from injury.
Lightning vs. Penguins NHL Betting Online Picks
Owing to home ice does Pittsburgh look like the better pick.
Lightning vs. Penguins NHL Betting Online Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins
Lightning vs. Penguins NHL Betting Online Series Prediction: Penguins 3, Lightning 2
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