Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks

Tampa Bay comes off a 2-0 shutout of Philadelphia on a 12-8 run UNDER the total. The defense is fifth in penalty killing, seventh in goals allowed (2.64 per game), and second in save percentage (.914). The Dallas defense is second in penalty killing, sixth in save percentage (.908), and fifth in goals allowed (2.63 per game). The Stars have won nine of 11 at home with the only losses to Montreal (3-1) and Carolina (2-1). Scoring will be difficult for both sides with these outstanding defenses. Take Tampa Bay/Dallas UNDER the total. 

Dallas has won four of five games, scoring 23 goals. The offense is 11th in goals scored, while the defense is fifth in penalty killing, No. 1 in goals allowed (2.33 per game), and sixth in save percentage (.916). Tampa Bay has played six of its last nine on the road and has played the previous two in overtime. The defense is 23rd in penalty killing and 17th in save percentage (.903). They come home from a two-game trek after losing at Columbus, 7-6, in OT. Play Dallas. 

Tampa Bay has lost four in a row, its longest losing streak of the season, and got blown out 8-1 by Dallas on Saturday. Joe Pavelski had a goal and two assists and Jason Robertson scored twice and Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled after two periods after allowing six goals on 25 shots. Vasilevskiy is 1-3-0 with a 3.85 GAA and .859 save percentage since returning from offseason back surgery. Jake Oettinger stopped 32 shots for the Stars and he is probable for this game with a 10-4-2 record and 2.43 GAA and .919 save percentage. The Stars have won 10 of 12 against Eastern Conference teams and they have won eight of their past 10 road games. Tampa Bay is 3-13 after losing by at least three goals and 4-12 after allowing five or more goals its previous game. Take the Stars as a Max Play.

Tampa Bay's offense is sixth in the NHL in goals scored, plus seventh in shooting percentage and shots on goal. They've had an inconsistent start, capable of beating anyone but then losing three in a row. They're 4-4 over the last eight games, beating Edmonton as an underdog, 6-4, knocking off Boston, 5-4, as a +125 dog, and winning at Carolina, 8-2, as a +135 dog. Dallas is in a difficult situational stretch. This is their only home game in the middle of a stretch playing five of six on the road. Dallas has lost four of six, dropping all four as chalk of -125, -135, -170, and -130. They've been much better on the road, too, with a 5-4-1 home mark. Dallas is 46-48 against teams that average 29.5+ shots on goal per game and Tampa Bay has won the last two meetings, 3-1 and 5-4. Play Tampa Bay.