The Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning meet Sunday in NHL action from the Benchmark International Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning prediction.
Nashville Predators Recap
The Nashville Predators come into this game looking to bounce back from their 4-1 loss at the hands of Montreal last time out to fall to 34-30-9 this season. After this game, Nashville will head on the road for a game against the Los Angeles Kings.
Predators Lose Back-To-Back Games
Ryan O’Reilly leads the Predators in scoring with 66 points along with 24 goals and 42 assists while Filip Forsberg has 65 points with 33 goals and 32 assists. Erik Haula has 32 points with 11 goals and 21 assists and Luke Evangelista has 50 points with 40 assists as well this season. Michael Bunting has 31 points with 13 goals and 18 assists and Steven Stamkos has 58 points with a team-high 36 goals this season. Juuse Saros has gone 26-20-7 with a 3.13 GAA and an .894 save percentage while Justus Annunen has gone 8-10-2 with a 2.90 GAA and an .899 save percentage so far this season.
Why the Nashville Predators will win
- The Lightning have lost six of their last seven games as home favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The road team has won three of the Predators’ last four games.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven home games against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Predators have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Nashville Predators Player Prop Facts
- Steven Stamkos has scored at least one goal in four of the Predators’ last five games.
- Ryan O’Reilly has recorded at least one assist in eight of his last nine appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Steven Stamkos ranks 1st in the league for Game Winning Goals (10) this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning Recap
The Tampa Bay Lightning come into this game looking to add on to their 4-2 win over Ottawa last time out to improve to 45-21-6 this season. After this game, Tampa Bay will take on Montreal at home.
Lightning Alternate Wins & Losses In 5 Straight
Going into Saturday’s game against Ottawa, Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning in scoring with 121 points including 40 goals and 81 assists while Brandon Hagel has 70 points with 33 goals and 37 assists and Jake Guentzel has 76 points with 33 goals and 43 assists. Anthony Cirelli has 49 points with 20 goals and 29 assists. Darren Raddysh has also added 65 points with 20 goals and 45 assists as well on the year. Andrei Vasilevskiy has gone 34-12-4 with a 2.33 GAA and a .912 save percentage while Jonas Johansson is 10-9-2 with a 3.27 GAA and an .883 save percentage this season.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Predators have lost each of their last seven night games at Benchmark International Arena.
- The Lightning have won each of their last six home games against Central Division opponents.
- The Lightning have covered the puck line in each of their last five home games against Central Division opponents.
- The Predators have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six night games at Benchmark International Arena.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances.
- Nikita Kucherov has scored at least one goal in each of the Lightning’s last seven Sunday home games.
- Zemgus Girgensons has scored two goals against the Predators this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Predators’ last 10 Sunday games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Lightning’s last six night games have gone OVER the total goals line.
Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction
I’m on the Lightning here. I just think Tampa Bay’s the better team here and while both teams are fighting for a playoff spot, and Nashville definitely has more to lose in this game, I think that Tampa Bay’s still turning it on and has one of the more lethal home ice advantages in the NHL and I think the Bolts push through and grab the win here.