Lightning vs. Flames Pick
Are the Calgary Flames going to post a victory on their home ice tonight versus the Tampa Bay Lightning? The puck drops at 9PM ET.
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Lightning are listed as a -120 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Flames are a +100 underdog, while the total is set at 5.5 goals. As of Thursday afternoon, 76 percent of public bets have come in on the Lightning.
Tampa Bay comes in with a 34-13-1-2 record after a 3-1 loss Tuesday at the Jets. Calgary is 25-17-3-5 following a 4-2 home loss Tuesday versus the Golden Knights. The Flames won the first meeting this season by a count of 5-1 in Tampa Bay on Jan. 11. Calgary is 2-1 in three meetings since the start of last season. The over is 2-1.
The Lightning were paced by Matthew Peca as he scored their lone goal at Winnipeg on assists from Jake Dotchin and Brayden Point. Louis Dominique made 34 saves on 37 shots to take the loss. Peca gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead with 29 seconds left in the first period, but the Jets scored twice in the second and added an insurance goal in the third to take control.
In the loss to Las Vegas, Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk scored a goal apiece to lead the way. Mike Smith recorded 31 saves on 34 shots in the losing effort. The Flames led 2-1 on the goal by Tkachuk late in the second period before surrendering three unanswered goals in the third.
Tampa Bay is 7-2 in its last nine meetings in Calgary. The over is 5-1 in the last six Lightning games played on one day’s rest. Calgary is 0-5 in its last five games overall and 0-4 in its last four home games.
The Lightning have slowed down their pace a little bit, but are still an explosive team and are meeting a struggling Calgary squad. The spread is low because Tampa Bay is on the road, but the Lightning have had a lot of success in recent years in Calgary. I’m going to trust Steven Stamkos and the rest of the high-powered Tampa Bay offense here.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING -120