Nashville Predators vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks

Nashville comes off a 4-1 loss at home yesterday to Montreal. The offense ranks 19th in goals scored and 22nd in shooting percentage, while the defense is 11th in penalty killing. Nashville is on an 11-4-2 run UNDER the total. Tampa Bay also played yesterday, a 4-2 win over Ottawa. They've won six of nine, allowing 24 goals. The defense is fourth in goals given up (2.76 per game) and in penalty killing, plus tied for eighth in save percentage (.902). Play Nashville/Tampa Bay UNDER the total. 

Yes, it is strange to see Tampa Bay at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with only eight points, tied with three other teams. But signs are there that the Lightning are ready to turn the corner. Tampa Bay has won consecutive games for the first time this season, beating the Ducks and Golden Knights, 2-1, in overtime at home this past Sunday. The Lightning's confidence is up as they head into Nashville for this matchup. Tampa Bay has dominated the Predators, winning eight of the past 10 games against them. This includes both games last season. Tampa Bay had lost four in a row before its current win streak. However, all four of those defeats had come by one goal, two of which occurred in overtime. So Tampa Bay's record is misleading. Nashville has been scuffling, losing five of its last seven games. The Predators have a slow, plodding attack that Tampa Bay's elite goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy should be able to thwart. Nashville has been held to two or fewer goals in five of its last six games. Take the Lightning.

Tampa Bay has a +14 goal differential, the fourth-best in the Eastern Conference. The offense is fourth in the NHL in goals scored, eighth on the power play, and second in shooting percentage. Last place Nashville has a minus-14 goal differential, the second-worst in the Western Conference. The defense is 24th in goals surrendered (3.17 per game), while the offense is last in goals scored, 14th on the power play, and last in shooting percentage. They come off a 3-2 loss at home to Philadelphia as a -175 favorite and have dropped six of their previous eight. Play Tampa Bay. 

Despite playing six of their eight games at home, Nashville has a losing record. The Predators play their third game in four nights, with two on the road. The defense is 24th in goals allowed and 17th in save percentage (.896), while the offense is 27th in goals scored and 20th on the power play. Tampa Bay's defense is eighth in goals given up and sixth in shots on goal allowed, while the offense is fourth in goals scored (3.88 per game). Tampa Bay is 3-1 at home after Saturday's 3-0 victory over Washington. Play Tampa Bay.