Amalie Arena is the site for an East-West clash as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the visiting Vancouver Canucks. It’s the final time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The match will get started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 8, and you’ll be able to view it live on Sportsnet Pacific.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay (-260) is currently the favorite over Vancouver (+220), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 money on the over, +105 on the under). Those O/U odds have shifted after originally opening at -130 over, +110 under.
The Lightning are 36-17 straight up (SU) and have netted 10.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league so far this season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (42-40). Through 53 regular season matches, 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 17-6 SU at home.
Tampa Bay’s been able to convert on 23.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.4 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 last five contests total, and 4.0 per game over its last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties for 8.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 29.1 saves per game with a .929 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (31-13-2) has been the best goalkeeper for the Lightning this year. If head coach Jon Cooper decides to give him a breather, however, the Bolts may roll with Louis Domingue (2-9-9 record, .877 save percentage, 3.88 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue to look for offensive production from Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Kucherov (66 points) has tallied 27 goals and 39 assists and has recorded two or more points 22 times this year. Stamkos has 19 goals and 41 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 36 contests.
Vancouver is 21-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 53 regular season contests, 30 of its games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team, Vancouver is 11-15 SU so far.
Vancouver has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver’s skaters have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.5 saves per game) has been the main choice in the net for Vancouver. Markstrom has 15 wins, 25 losses, and five OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .908 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Brock Boeser (25 goals, 21 assists) will lead the attack for the visiting Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Vancouver is 0-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Tampa Bay is 2-2 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in four of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
- Vancouver has managed 27.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Tampa Bay is averaging 31.6 shots per game over its last five home outings.
