Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks

Perhaps the Hurricanes were caught looking ahead to this game. Still, their offense comes into question after getting upset, 3-1, by the Blues at home in their last game two days ago. St. Louis ranks 26th defensively. Tampa Bay ranks No. 3 defensively, permitting only 2.8 goals a game. Carolina also goes from facing Jordan Binnington in net to probably drawing superstar goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has the fourth-highest save percentage in the NHL (.913) and the third-best goals against average (2.29). The Lightning could also get back veteran defenseman Erik Cernak. Tampa Bay's offense has slipped during its current 2-6 skid. The Lightning have been held to two or fewer goals in four of their last seven games. Carolina is seventh defensively, holding opponents to an average of 2.9 goals. The Hurricanes give up the fewest shots on goal. Take the UNDER.

Tampa Bay is 20-1-1 in its past 22 games. Yet the Lightning find themselves a mid-size road underdog against the Hurricanes. Yes, Carolina is very good, and the Lightning are playing without rest. But this is a spot where it is good to have played a game following the three-week Olympic break. Tampa Bay was solid again in defeating the Maple Leafs, 4-2, at home on Wednesday night. That was the Lightning's sixth consecutive victory. Carolina is 8-4 in its last 12 games, but hasn't played since Feb. 5. It is asking a lot for the Hurricanes to put together an "A" type of performance against a sizzling opponent when they haven't played for so long. Carolina has managed to win by just one goal during four of its last six victories. Tampa Bay is averaging 4.8 goals in its last five games. The Lightning are No. 2 in scoring at 3.5 goals a game. The Hurricanes have scored more than three goals only once in their last four games. Take the Lightning. 

Tampa Bay is an underdog despite being on an 11-3 run. They're working on two days of rest, ranked second in the NHL in scoring (3.54 goals per game), sixth on the power play, and second in shooting percentage. The defense is 10th in penalty killing, sixth in goals allowed (2.67 per game), and second in save percentage (.915). They've won four of their last six on the road. Carolina is working on one day of rest. The offense is 25th on the power play and 22nd in shooting percentage, while the defense is 20th in save percentage (.898). Play Tampa Bay. 

Carolina has won three of five, including a 3-1 victory at Florida in their last road game as a dog. The Hurricanes are sixth in the NHL in goals scored (3.38 per game) and 10th on the power play, while the defense is 10th in goals allowed and second in penalty killing. Road-weary Tampa Bay comes home from a three-game trip on the West Coast. It was a terrible trek losing all three by an 8-3 count. They're lost four in a row overall, including a 5-2 defeat to Montreal in their last home game as a -225 favorite. Play Carolina.