Two teams that split their season series 5-5 a year ago, the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning collide at Amalie Arena. The game will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 16, and you can see this Eastern Conference matchup live on NBC Sports Washington.
Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
Tampa Bay enters the game as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -190. The line for Washington sits at +165, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-125 under, +105 over).
The Lightning are 54-17 straight up (SU) and have netted 25.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked first in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 54-28 record from the 2017-18 season campaign. Of the team’s 71 games this season, 36 have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team’s 29-8 SU at home this year.
Tampa Bay currently touts the best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 29.1 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.8 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Tampa has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 8.0 minutes per game over its last five matchups, in total.
Averaging 30.2 saves per game with a .929 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (33-12-4) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Lightning this season. If the Bolts choose to give him a rest, however, the team might go with Louis Domingue (20-5-5 record, .908 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
The Bolts will continue looking for offensive production out of Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. Kucherov (115 points) has produced 35 goals and 80 assists and has recorded two or more points in 33 different games this year. Point has 38 goals and 48 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 46 games.
Washington has earned 5.8 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 42-29 straight up (SU). Through 71 regular season matches, 37 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under the total and just three have pushed. As the visiting team, Washington is 21-15 SU.
Washington has converted on 21.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 21st overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Washington’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Braden Holtby (2.89 goals against average and .909 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Washington. Holtby is averaging 27.7 saves per game and has 27 wins, 24 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive firepower for the visiting Capitals will be Alex Ovechkin, who’s got 46 goals and 33 assists this year.
Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 6-1 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five matches.
- Tampa Bay has scored 4.7 goals per game and allowed just 2.7 in its past three games (the team is a perfect 3-0 SU during that span).
- Eight of Washington’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 6-2 in those games.
- The Bolts this season have handed out the sixth-most hits per game in the NHL (25.3).
