The New Jersey Devils (16-21-7) host the NHL’s hottest team Sunday as the Tampa Bay Lightning (27-13-4) visit Prudential Center amid a 10-game winning streak. Puck drop is set for shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Lightning-Devils sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Lightning at Devils: Projected starting goalies
Curtis McElhinney vs. Louis Domingue
McElhinney is likely to take over for Andrei Vasilevskiy Sunday after the reigning Vezina Trophy winner shut out the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday. McElhinney has won back-to-back starts, allowing a total of four goals on 48 shots. He is 5-4-2 on the season with a .904 save percentage and 3.19 goals against average.
Domingue was in net Saturday for the Devils, as he stopped 33 of 34 shots in a win over the Washington Capitals. He’s 2-4-0 overall with a .888 SV% and 3.45 GAA.
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Lightning at Devils: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:20 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Lightning 5, Devils 3
Moneyline (ML)
The LIGHTNING (-223) are receiving higher odds than they should Sunday as they shoot for their eleventh consecutive win. There’s a fair amount of chalk that’ll need to be swallowed, but this number should be much lower. The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners have soared into second in the Atlantic Division and have the league’s second-best goal differential at plus-34. They’re 13-6-2 on the road for the season and 4-2 on the second half of a back-to-back.
The Devils (+180) are coming off a 5-1 win over the Capitals Saturday, but they also had to travel back home, erasing most of their home-ice advantage. They’re 5-3-2 across their last 10 games but only 6-9-7 at home for the season.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Back the LIGHTNING (-1.5, +120) to win by at least 2 goals. They’ve done so six times during their 10-game win streak and 15 times on the season. They’re 18-26 against the spread overall and 9-12 on the road, but the Devils are just 19-25 ATS overall and 9-13 at home.
Seven of the Devils’ (+1.5, -143) last nine losses were decided by at least a two-goal margin.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the OVER 6.5 (+115) with the back-to-back for both teams leading to sloppier defensive play. The Lightning are 5-5 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games, while the Devils are 7-3. Tampa Bay’s expected pivot from Vasilevskiy to McElhinney will help boost the goal total.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 162-146
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