The Arizona Coyotes (+195) welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning (-245), who will be out to prolong their winning run, at Mullett Arena on Wednesday. The total is 6.5 (O: -110, U: -110)Tampa Bay (35-16-2) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a 4-3 shootout win over the Avalanche yesterday, their third win in a row.
Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Anthony Cirelli scored one apiece for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy saved an impressive 43 of 46 shots (.934%) in the win.
Arizona (18-28-8) beat the Predators 4-2 on Monday. Lawson Crouse was the leading goal scorer for the Coyotes, netting twice. Karel Vejmelka saved 29 of 31 shots in the win (.935%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Lightning won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-3 victory in December, their third straight win against Arizona. Victor Hedman led Tampa Bay with three points (0G 3A). Travis Boyd, Christian Fischer, and Nick Bjugstad were on the scoresheet for Arizona. Vasilevskiy got the win, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903%).
FACING OFF
Tampa Bay is averaging 3.57 goals per game for the season, fourth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Coyotes team that is allowing 3.50 goals a game (25th).
Meanwhile, Arizona has found the net 2.67 times a game on average, 28th in the league, and the Lightning are allowing opponents to score 2.92 goals per game (13th).
Arizona averages fewer shots/game (25.7) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 10.5% shooting percentage ranks 10th. With an average of 32.1 attempts, Tampa Bay ranks 15th. Look for several power play opportunities for the Coyotes, as the Lightning are averaging 4.55 penalties per game, fifth-most in the NHL.
The visitors’ 11.45 penalty minutes a game also ranks fifth-highest. The home team has been penalized 4.48 times a game (7th) for an average of 10.80 minutes (7th).
The Lightning’s 25.97% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while the Coyotes rank 25th with a conversion rate of 19.28%. When it comes to defending power plays, Tampa Bay has the league’s 14th-ranked PK% at 80.59%, while Arizona is 24th at 75.74%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 78 points this season, third-most in the NHL, Kucherov is the top skater for the Lightning. He leads the league with 57 assists and has added 21 goals of his own. In the net, Vasilevskiy (25-13-1) is Tampa Bay’s top goaltender.
He has a 2.52 GAA and a .919% save percentage. Clayton Keller leads the Coyotes in scoring with 50 points. He has 21 goals and 29 assists in 54 games. Vejmelka (15-17-5) has the best goals against average for Arizona at 3.20. He has a save percentage of .906%.
HOME AND AWAY
Tampa Bay is 14-12-0 on the road this season. Arizona is 11-8-2 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Lightning are 3-6 without a day off and 3-6 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Coyotes are 2-2 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (+100)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
