NHL Knowledge
Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh
Penguins scored first goal of Game 3 with 0:10 left in second period, as they gained control of series vs backup goalie Vasilevsky. Lightning won five of last seven home games- under is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Pittsburgh is 6-2 in its last eight games, going 3-2 in last five on road. Tampa Bay won five of its last eight games with Penguins- they won three of last four played here. Over is 8-1-1 in last ten series games, but under is 5-3-3 in last ten Tampa Bay games overall. Lightning is 1-4 on power play in first three games in this series, Pittsburgh is 2-9.
Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 16-9, Over: 11-5-9
Conference finals-- Home 3-3, Over 1-4-1
Armadillosports.com
PITTSBURGH (58-29-0-9, 125 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (55-34-0-6, 116 pts.) - 5/20/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 45-54 ATS (-35.5 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 3 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 37-20 ATS (+4.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
TAMPA BAY is 21-10 ATS (+31.5 Units) when trailing in a playoff series since 1996.
TAMPA BAY is 33-14 ATS (+15.3 Units) after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 30-13 ATS (+12.2 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 201-211 ATS (+494.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 58-38 ATS (+7.0 Units) in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 20-13 ATS (+33.3 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
PITTSBURGH is 40-19 ATS (+13.7 Units) second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 7-5 (+1.1 Units) against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 7-5-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
9 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+6.7 Units)
PITTSBURGH vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Pittsburgh's last 18 games when playing Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh: 30-16 SU after playing a road game
Tampa Bay: 7-12 SU revenging a loss where opponent scored 4 or more goals
Friday's NHL Conference Finals Betting Preview
By Covers.com
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (A: -145, H: +125, O/U: 5)
The Tampa Bay Lightning look to turn their fortunes around and even the Eastern Conference final when they host the surging Pittsburgh Penguins for Game 4 on Friday night. The Lightning have lost two straight in the postseason for the first time this year after giving up 48 shots in a humbling 4-2 loss on Wednesday that followed a 41-shot effort by Pittsburgh in Game 2.
“When you play in the playoffs, you have to have a really short memory,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper told reporters. “Regardless if you’re playing well, or not, that’s it. Turn the page. Tomorrow is a new day. Sun’s coming up, I think. And we’ll be ready to go.” Ben Bishop (left leg) has begun skating, but is considered doubtful for Game 4 and Cooper said it wouldn’t have mattered if the Vezina Trophy finalist and Andrei Vasilevskiy both played in net the last two games. Phil Kessel continued his strong postseason with a goal and an assist Wednesday for Pittsburgh and leads the team with 16 points – eight in the last five games. “(Kessel) elevates his game in the playoffs,” Penguins center Nick Bonino told reporters. “You look at his numbers and just this playoff run and he’s been great.”
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Penguins - Matt Murray (W/L: 9-3, GAA: 2.13, SAVE %: .929)
Lightning - Andrei Vasilevskiy (W/L: 1-2, GAA: 2.45, SAVE %: .914)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (58-29-9, 42-36 O/U): All four lines have done the job causing havoc in the Lightning defensive zone the last two games, winning puck battles and forcing turnovers that have led to momentum. “They’re not an easy team to get shots against, but we’re finding a way,” right wing Carl Hagelin, who had a goal and an assist Wednesday, told reporters. “That’s what happens when you hold onto the puck a lot and have a lot of possession.” Right wing Patric Hornqvist (six goals) suffered an apparent left hand injury Wednesday while blocking a shot, but coach Mike Sullivan told reporters he didn’t “envision it being an issue.”
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (55-34-6, 38-44 O/U): Cooper shuffled his forward lines in the third period, putting the “triplets” -- Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov – back together and they contributed five points. It was too little too late for the Lightning, who are struggling to get the puck out of their own end and through the neutral zone with speed as defenseman Anton Stralman told reporters, “A lot of it is self-inflicted. They’re a really good team, but we’re kind of feeding them a lot.” Forward Jonathan Drouin needs to rebound after his first rough game of the playoffs, registering three giveaways and no shots on net.
TRENDS:
* Penguins are 12-3 in their last 15 road games.
* Lightning are 1-5 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 5-1-3 in Penguins last 9 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
* Under is 8-2 in Lightning last 10 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Tampa Bay.
CONSENSUS: The moneyline wagers are at 50 percent on either side. In total wagering, Over 5 is picking up 70 percent of the over/under picks.