Free NHL Picks Today: Anaheim Ducks vs Tampa Bay Lightning 10/26/22

The Tampa Bay Lightning (-170) are on the road to take on the Anaheim Ducks (+145), who will be looking to snap their losing run, at Honda Center on Wednesday. The total is 6 (O: -120, U: +100)Tampa Bay (3-4-0) is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 4-2 loss against the Kings yesterday. The Lightning committed five penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.

Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov each scored once for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy saved only 29 of 33 shots against (.878%) in the loss. Anaheim (1-4-1) lost for the fifth straight game, falling 5-1 to the Red Wings on Sunday. Trevor Zegras was the only player to score for the Ducks. John Gibson saved only 36 of 41 shots against (.878%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 4-3 (OT) victory for the Lightning in April. Anthony Cirelli (1G 1A), Alex Killorn (1G 1A), and Steven Stamkos (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Tampa Bay. Adam Henrique (2G 0A) and Ryan Getzlaf (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Anaheim. Brian Elliott saved 13 shots to earn the shutout win.

FACING OFF

Tampa Bay is averaging 2.86 goals per game so far this season, 23rd in the NHL, and they are taking on a Ducks team that is allowing 4.50 goals a game (30th). Meanwhile, Anaheim has found the net 2.33 times a game on average, 30th in the league, and the Lightning are allowing opponents to score 3.29 goals per game (22nd).

Anaheim averages fewer shots (25.8) than most teams in the league, ranking 29th. With an average of 31.9 attempts, Tampa Bay ranks 16th.Look for a few power play opportunities for the Lightning, as the Ducks have been penalized 5.33 times a game, fourth-most in the NHL, for an average of 13.33 minutes (first-highest). The visitors are averaging 4.43 penalties (14th) and 9.71 penalty minutes a game (15th).

The Lightning’s 24.14% power play percentage ranks 11th in the league, while the Ducks are 27th with a conversion rate of 10.00%. Anaheim has been poor at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s second-lowest PK% at 65.38%. Tampa Bay’s 80.77% ranks 14th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

Stamkos (7G 2A) and Kucherov (1G 8A) are the top skaters for the Lightning this season with nine points apiece. Stamkos leads the league in goals, while Kucherov is among the league leaders in assists (2nd). In the net, Vasilevskiy (2-3-0) is Tampa Bay’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.84 GAA and a .914% save percentage.

Troy Terry leads the Ducks in scoring with seven points. He has three goals and four assists. Anthony Stolarz (0-1-0) has the best goals against average for Anaheim at 4.33. He has a save percentage of .885%. Gibson (1-3-1) has played the most games in net for the Ducks this season. He has a 4.51 GAA and a .892% save percentage.