Two clubs that split their season series (one win apiece) a year ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Edmonton Oilers face off at Rogers Place for a cross-continent showdown. Sportsnet West will air the matchup, and the opening face-off takes place at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 5.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers Odds
Tampa Bay (+115) is currently the underdog to Tampa Bay (-135) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-125 for the over, +105 for the under).
Tampa Bay is 36-16 straight up (SU) and has earned 11.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 31 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Bolts are 19-10 SU.
Tampa Bay has converted on 23.3 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.1 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, 3.8 per game over its past five total, and 3.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to defend opponent power plays 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (31-12-2) has been the top option in goal for Tampa Bay this season. If Tampa Bay decides to rest him, however, the team may go with Louis Domingue (2-8), who has a .880 save percentage and 3.81 goals against average this year.
Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Lightning. Kucherov (66 points) has tallied 27 goals and 39 assists, and has recorded two or more points 21 times. Stamkos has 19 goals and 41 assists to his nameand has registered a point in 35 games.
Edmonton is 22-28 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 25 of its games have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just one has pushed. The teams 11-15 SU at home this season.
Edmonton has converted on just 14.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 32nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 71.7 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five outings. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays a whopping 17.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cam Talbot has stopped 26.0 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for Edmonton. Talbot has 19 wins, 20 losses, and two OT losses to his name and has registered a subpar .901 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average this year.
The Oilers will be led on offense by Connor McDavid (17 goals, 39 assists).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Edmonton Oilers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in three of Edmonton’s last five games.
- Tampa Bay has managed 27.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Edmonton is averaging 34.2 shots per game over its last five at home.
- The Lightning are 21-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 20-9 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Tampa Bay is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 2-1 in shootouts.
- Edmonton has averaged 12.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 8.2 takeaways per game (ranked 10th in the NHL).
- Tampa Bay skaters have forced 6.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 7.2 takeaways per game (ranked 17th in the NHL).
