The Tampa Bay Lightning (34-15-5) host the New York Islanders (31-15-6) Saturday at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Islanders-Lightning sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Islanders at Lightning: Projected starting goalies
Semyon Varlamov vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy
Varlamov earned his first win since Jan. 6, with a 28-save effort against the Dallas Stars Tuesday. He comes into Saturday with a 16-8-4 record, .915 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average.
Vasilevskiy has won four straight games and has improved to 28-9-3 on the season. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has a .918 SV% and 2.52 GAA.
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Islanders at Lightning: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Lightning 4, Islanders 1
Moneyline (ML)
The LIGHTNING (-222) have won five straight games and are worth the moderate amount of chalk at home, where they’re 17-7-2 on the season. The Islanders (+180) have won two straight and three of their last four games. Both teams last played Thursday, with the Lightning beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 and the Isles beating the Los Angeles Kings 5-3.
Vasilevskiy gives the Lightning the advantage in the goaltending matchup and makes the home team the choice for Saturday.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Lightning to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $4.50.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Roll with the LIGHTNING (-1.5, +125) to win by at least 2 goals. The Isles won the first two head-to-head meetings of the season by scores of 5-2 (Nov. 1) and 5-1 (Dec. 9), but it was backup Curtis McElhinney in net for Tampa Bay in the second encounter. Vasilevskiy comes into Saturday in Vezina form and will avenge his early December loss.
Each of Tampa Bay’s last three wins and four of their last five were decided by margins of at least 2 goals.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 5.5 (+115) as the more profitable side of the Over/Under bet. Both of the two previous meetings this year topped Saturday’s projected total, but the Lightning have been favoring the Under of late, going 3-4-3 against the number.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 209-202
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