A pair of teams that have put themselves firmly in playoff contention, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Winnipeg Jets clash at Bell MTS Place. Fox Sports Sun will broadcast this East-West matchup, and the puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 17.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Winnipeg Jets Odds
Oddsmakers have not yet posted moneyline or Over/Under odds for this matchup.
Though the team is 28-19 straight up (SU) this season, Tampa Bay has actually lost 1.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. 26 of its contests have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the road team this season, the Bolts are 13-10 SU.
Tampa Bay enters the match up with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 27.5 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, it has the seventh-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of its penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over its past five games total, and 4.6 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (23-11-2) has been the top option in goal for Tampa Bay this season. If Tampa Bay chooses to rest him, however, head coach Jon Cooper might go with Curtis McElhinney (5-8-2 record, .902 save percentage, 3.10 goals against average).
The visiting Lightning have relied on Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos heavily this season. Kucherov (52 points) is up to 20 goals and 32 assists, and has recorded two or more points 13 times. Stamkos has 18 goals and 28 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 28 games).
On the other side of the rink, Winnipeg is 25-22 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 47 regular season outings, 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team’s 11-12 SU as the home team.
Winnipeg has converted on 21.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.2 percent of all penalties.
The Jets have been penalized only 3.0 times per game this season, 2.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Connor Hellebuyck has stopped 28.6 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck has 22 wins, 17 losses, and four overtime losses to his name and has maintained a .923 save percentage and 2.57 goals against average this year.
The Jets offense will be led by Mark Scheifele (22 goals, 30 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Winnipeg Jets Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone under in three of their past five outings.
- Tampa Bay has managed 25.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Winnipeg is averaging 31.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The Lightning are 11-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-10 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Tampa Bay is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Winnipeg is 3-1 in shootouts.
- Winnipeg skaters have averaged 6.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.9 takeaways per game (ranked 21st overall).
- Tampa Bay is ranked 18th overall this season with 7.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower recently, however, as it has averaged 5.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.4 takeaways over its last five.
