Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals Betting Picks

A month ago, the Lightning were 1-6 in their first seven games this season. That seems like a long time ago, as since then Tampa Bay is 10-3. This marks the fifth time the Lightning is an underdog after turning their season around. Tampa Bay is 3-1 in those games. The Lightning have held the Oilers, Jets, and Panthers to one goal apiece in three of their last four games. Star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was in net for all three of those games. He is projected to be in goal today. The Lightning received a boost in their 2-1 victory against the Oilers two days ago, with Nick Paul making his season debut after recovering from offseason wrist surgery. Paul had a goal in the game. The Capitals have won three in a row, but their defense has slipped. Washington is giving up an average of 3.6 goals a game in its last five games. The Capitals rank third defensively, but they were No. 1. Take the Lightning. 

Washington expects to have Logan Thompson back in the net following a 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh when backup Charlie Lindgren allowed four goals. Thompson is 6-3-0 with a sparkling 1.45 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. The Capitals have won four of the past six meetings, and they have gone UNDER 10 of 15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Tampa Bay has lost seven of eight versus the Eastern Conference, and it has stayed UNDER four of six against the Metropolitan Division. The Lightning are on an 8-3 UNDER run overall. The Capitals won the first meeting 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 14. Take the Capitals and the UNDER.

After opening with home losses against the Senators and Devils, the Lightning beat the Bruins 4-3 on the road Monday. Tampa Bay should be back on firm footing now. Yesterday, Tampa Bay successfully killed five Boston power play chances and was able to rest star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is confirmed to be in the net today. Vasilevskiy has started slowly, but should have his best game of the season facing Washington. The Capitals are averaging just two goals per game in their three games. They have only managed one goal in two of their three games. Tampa Bay went 2-1 versus Washington last season, winning in their lone road appearance. The Lightning are averaging 3.6 goals per game, and we're getting a reasonable price. Take Tampa to grab the win. 

Tampa Bay is on a roll, winning seven in a row while allowing only 1.71 goals per game following a 3-0 victory over Calgary on Thursday. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and the Lightning stayed UNDER for the third straight game. Washington has lost two in a row, and five of nine, and the Capitals have scored only three goals in their past two games after scoring 15 in their two previous games. The Caps are 0-4 in their past four games against teams that allowed two or fewer goals in their previous game and 1-6 in playing with one day of rest. The game will feature two of the top goalies in the league, Vasilevskiy (2.19 goals-against average) and Logan Thompson (2.35 GAA). Take the Lightning and the UNDER.

Washington has lost two of three, scoring just seven goals. Star forward Alex Ovechkin leads the NHL with 15 goals, but is out for a month with a broken leg. Tampa Bay is 7-2-1 at home after whipping Colorado in the last game, 8-2. The offense is fifth in goals scored, eighth on the power play, and second in shooting percentage, while the defense is 13th in goals given up. These teams met at this arena last month and Tampa Bay won a 3-0 shutout, so back home ice. Play Tampa Bay.