The Pittsburgh Penguins (30-21-9) play the 2nd contest of a 3-game road trip Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning (37-19-4) at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Penguins vs. Lightning odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Penguins have picked up 3 consecutive victories, including a 7-3 spanking of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday in the Steel City as the Over easily cashed.
The Lightning followed up that loss in Pittsburgh with a 4-1 setback at home against the rival Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Lightning are stuck in a 2-3-2 skid in the last 8 outings, with the Over 4-2 in the last 6 games overall.
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Penguins at Lightning odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Penguins +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Lightning -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-170) | Lightning -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Penguins at Lightning projected goalies
Tristan Jarry (18-7-5, 2.73 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (28-15-2, 2.56 GAA, .919 SV%, 2 SO)
Jarry has picked up consecutive road wins against the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues, allowing just 3 totals goals on 52 shots. Jarry didn’t face the Lightning in the most recent meeting, but he allowed just 2 goals on 36 shots in a 6-2 win over the Lightning Oct. 15.
Vasilevskiy was also not in the crease in that blowout loss in Pittsburgh last week, as backup Brian Elliott started. Vasi wasn’t in the crease for that first meeting, either, so Tampa’s pair of losses to Pittsburgh this season isn’t on him.
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Penguins at Lightning picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 5, Penguins 3
Moneyline
The LIGHTNING (-170) are a little on the expensive side, but if you don’t want to risk it on the puck line, Tampa isn’t a terrible play straight up.
The Penguins (+145) roughed up the Lightning in Pittsburgh last week, but that was with Elliott in the blue ice. Pittsburgh is still just 3-12 in the last 15 games against winning teams.
Tampa has won just twice in the last 7 games overall, although it is 5-1 in the last 6 games against Metropolitan Division teams.
Puck line/Against the spread
The LIGHTNING -1.5 (+145) is a solid play on the puck line. While Tampa has dropped the last 2 games, it has won by 2 or more goals in 5 of its last 6 victories.
Tampa has had a power outage on offense lately, but you can expect the Lightning to get some revenge on its home ice against the Pens. Pittsburgh is just 2-5 in the last 7 trips to the Suncoast, while the home team has won 11 of the last 16 meetings.
Over/Under
The OVER 6.5 (-125) is 3-0-1 in the last 4 games for the Penguins against Eastern Conference teams, while going 17-6-4 in the past 27 trips to Tampa. The Over is also 35-10-6 in the past 51 meetings overall in this series. When the Pens and Lightning meet, goals are sure to follow.
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