Certainly, the Pittsburgh Penguins are a franchise synonymous with Stanley Cup championship success as a perennial Eastern Conference contender. The Penguins are still fresh on the minds of gamblers for the Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. Add in their future Hall of Fame captain Sidney Crosby and you have one of the most “public” teams on the board for NHL gambling. However, this year has been a struggle for the Pens as they are currently in the eighth and final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference. Weak play on the back end and inconsistent goaltending have been the culprits. For the Tampa Bay Lightning this has been a season of flash. Tampa Bay has bolted to the top of the Eastern Conference with impressive dominance.
NHL Betting at Bookmaker.eu
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Date and Time:Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 8 p.m. ET
Location:PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NHL Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu:Check Back Later
Lightning vs. Penguins TV Coverage: NBCSN
Odds Analysis
Despite their problems this season the Penguins will draw plenty of gambling action as one of the most popular teams with casual hockey bettors. Tampa Bay is also well respected and may offer superior wagering value as the road team with a far better record.
Current Form
Tampa Bay has won seven of their last ten games with just two of their last eight games going over the total. The Lightning have the top record in the NHL at 37-10-2. Their road record is 17-5-2 with just nine of their away games going under the total.
Pittsburgh has dropped three of their last four games to now stand at 26-16-4-2 and in the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Penguins are 13-8-2 at home with just nine of their home games staying under the number.
Matchup Metrics
Tampa Bay has NHL rankings of first for both goal scoring and the power play. The Lightning are 10th in the NHL for goals against and sixth for penalty killing.
Pittsburgh ranks fifth in the NHL for goal scoring as well as fifth for the power play. The Pens rank a disturbing 17th in the NHL for goals against and fourth for penalty killing.
Goaltending Report
Top Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has been great form with a .929 save percentage in his last eight games. Overall Vasilevskiy has a .925 save percentage with a 2.50 goals against average and three shutouts. His record of 20-6-2. Backup Louis Domingue has a .905 save percentage and a 2.99 goals against average with a record of 16-4.
Pittsburgh’s Casey DeSmith has cooled off considerably after a hot start with an .841 save percentage in January. For the season DeSmith has a save percentage of .917 with a 2.68 goals against average and two shutouts. His record is 12-9-4. Regular number one goaltender Matt Murray has kicked into top gear with a .930 save percentage in January. Murray has more than overcome an injury that kept him out of the lineup for much of the season’s first half. In total his save percentage is .913 with a 2.86 goals against average and three shutouts. Murray’s record is 14-6-1.
Players to Watch
Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby has 21 goals, 36 assists and a plus 19. Crosby has been one of the few Penguins that consistently plays a full 200-foot game.
Tampa Bay right wing Nikita Kucherov leads with 22 goals and 56 assists with a plus 15. Center Brayden Point has 30 goals while fellow center and team captain Steven Stamkos has 26 goals with 31 assists.
Free NHL Live Betting Odds Pick
Pittsburgh plays their best hockey at home and has beaten the Lightning in four of their last five at PPG Paint Arena. Home ice should be the edge here.
NHL Live Betting Odds Picks: Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Score Prediction:Penguins 4, Lightning 3
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