TD Garden is playing host a divisional matchup as the Tampa Bay Lightning come into town to face the Boston Bruins. NBC Sports Network will showcase the game, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 29.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins Odds
Tampa Bay is 17-7 straight up (SU) and has netted 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 24 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and none have pushed. The Bolts are 8-4 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Tampa Bay currently has the first-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s found the net on 26.9 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Its penalty kill is ranked 11th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
The Bolts, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game in the 2017-18 season, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 6.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 30.8 saves per game with a .933 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (16-4-1) has been the primary option in goal for Tampa Bay this year. Vasilevskiy played last night, however, so head coach Jon Cooper might choose to rest him and instead turn to Peter Budaj (1-3-1 record, .867 save percentage, 3.75 goals against average).
The visiting Lightning have relied on Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov this season. Stamkos has 36 points via 10 goals and 26 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 11 different games. Kucherov has 17 goals and 18 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 18 games).
Over on the other bench, Boston is 10-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 11 of its contests have gone over the total, while another 11 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 6-6 SU at home.
The Bruins have converted on just 19.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Bruins skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Tuukka Rask (25.2 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Bruins. Rask has three wins, 10 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has maintained a poor .899 save percentage and 2.91 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by David Pastrnak (12 goals, eight assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Boston is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Tampa Bay is 1-1 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in three of Boston’s last five outings.
- Boston’s attempted 30.6 shots per game overall this season (ranked 24th in the NHL), and 32.8 in their last five home outings.
- Six of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 2-4 overall in those games.
- The Bruins this season have registered the third-most hits per game (25.7).
