In what’s already their final head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning collide at Amalie Arena. This East-West matchup will get going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, November 23, and it is being shown live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay (-200) is being picked as the heavy favorite over Chicago (+170), and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. If bettors want to wager on this matchup’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
The Lightning are 15-7 straight-up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 2.9 units this year. That win percentage, second-best in the league so far this season, is right in line with what the team posted during the 2017-18 season (54-28). Among its 22 games this season, 11 have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just one has pushed. Thus far, the team’s 8-3 SU at home.
Tampa Bay has been able to convert on 28.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over its past five matchups total, and 3.8 per game over its last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays for just 8.4 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 29.4 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (9-4-1) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Lightning this year. If they, however, decide to rest him, Tampa Bay may roll with Louis Domingue (6-3-3 record, .898 save percentage, 3.46 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue looking for leadership out of Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. Kucherov (27 points) has put up nine goals and 18 assists and has recorded multiple points on seven separate occasions this year. Point has 14 goals and 12 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 12 contests.
Chicago has lost 6.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 8-14 straight up (SU). A total of 11 of its outings have gone under the total, while 10 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, Chicago is 3-8 SU so far.
Chicago has converted on just 13.4 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Chicago’s skaters have been penalized only 3.1 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five match ups. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford (.918 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Chicago. Crawford is averaging 28.3 saves per game and owns a 5-8-1 record.
Patrick Kane (12 goals, 13 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the visiting Blackhawks.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the total has gone over in three of their last five matchups.
- Two teams that have clobbered opposing goalies with shots, Chicago has attempted the league’s 10th-most shots on goal (32.7) and Tampa Bay has attempted the 10th-most (32.7).
- The Blackhawks are 2-7 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-11 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Tampa Bay is ranked 18th overall with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended lower recently, however, as it has created 6.1 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Chicago has forced 9.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 7.1 takeaways per game (ranked 17th in the league).
- Tampa Bay may have an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The team’s 6-3 in games decided by one goal, while Chicago is 4-6 in such games.
