The Calgary Flames will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Let’s take a look at the Calgary preview, Tampa Bay preview, betting matchup, and the Flames vs Lightning prediction.
Flames Preview
The Calgary Flames are 30-26-5 this year after they lost to Seattle by a score of 4-2 in their last game. Calgary tied the game at one in the second period, but allowed three of the last four goals for the loss. The Flames out shot Seattle by a total of 37-30 and went 1-4 on the power play in the game. Calgary had won their previous five games against Pittsburgh, LA, Edmonton, Boston, and Winnipeg. The Flames are scoring 3.13 goals per game and they are allowing 3.07 goals against per game, while going 14.7% on the power play and 83.3% on the penalty kill. Nazem Kadri has led Calgary with 22 goals, 32 assists, and 196 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Calgary is Jacob Markstrom, who is 21-16-2 this year with a 2.61 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
Lightning Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 33-24-6 this season after they defeated Montreal in a shootout by a score of 4-3 in their last game. Tampa Bay trailed 2-0 after the first period, but they scored three of the next four goals to force overtime, before winning in a shootout. The Lightning were out shot by a total of 31-29 and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Tampa Bay lost to Buffalo by a score of 3-2 and Philadelphia by a score of 6-2 in the two games prior to Montreal. The Lightning are scoring 3.35 goals per game and they are allowing 3.38 goals against per game, while going 28.7% on the power play and 80.1% on the penalty kill. Nikita Kucherov has led Tampa Bay with 38 goals, 67 assists, and 255 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Tampa Bay is Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is 21-15-1 this season with a 2.98 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.
Tampa Bay Lightning Team Facts
- The Lightning have lost three of their last four games as home favorites.
- The road team has covered the puck line in seven of the Lightning’s last eight games.
- The Lightning have won the second period in eight of their last nine games as home favorites following a home win.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last eight games at Amalie Arena against opponents on a winning streak.
Calgary Flames Team Facts
- The Flames have won four of their last five games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Flames have covered the puck line in each of their last eight Thursday games as underdogs.
- The Flames have lost the second period in each of their last four games at Amalie Arena.
- The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Flames’ last three games as underdogs.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Brayden Point has scored at least one goal in eight of the Lightning’s last nine games at Amalie Arena.
- Steven Stamkos has recorded at least one point in each of the Lightning’s last nine Thursday night games against Pacific Division opponents at Amalie Arena.
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last eight Thursday home games.
- Nikita Kucherov ranks 2nd in the league for Points (105) this season.
Calgary Flames Player Prop Facts
- Blake Coleman has scored a goal in three of the Flames’ last four games.
- Nazem Kadri has recorded at least one assist in three of the Flames’ last four games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Blake Coleman has recorded a point in each of his last four appearances against former teams.
- Yegor Sharangovich ranks T1st in the Pacific Division for shootout goals (3) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 25th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.38).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 3rd in the league for power play goals this season (54).
- The Calgary Flames rank T30th in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (9).
- The Calgary Flames are one of only three teams to win 5+ games when trailing after Period 2 this season.
Flames vs Lightning Betting Prediction
Calgary comes into this game after a loss to Seattle, but they have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last two weeks. The Flames have won five of their last six games, but they are just 14-12-4 on the road. Tampa Bay has dropped two of their last three games, but they are 19-8-4 on home ice this season. Tampa Bay is the better offensive team in this matchup, but their defense/goaltending has been extremely inconsistent. On the other side, Calgary has had great goaltending with Markstrom in net and I think they could steal this game. Take the Flames here.