Free NHL Picks Today: Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightning 4/8/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightning 4/8/23
Sat 8th April 2023

Two of the league’s most penalized teams are set to face off at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday, as the Tampa Bay Lightning (45-28-6) travel to face the Ottawa Senators (37-35-7).Tampa Bay is coming off a 6-1 loss against the Islanders on Thursday. Nikita Kucherov was the only player to find the net for the Lightning.

Brian Elliott only had 36 saves on 42 shots against (.857%) in the loss. Ottawa lost for the fourth game in a row, falling 7-2 to the Panthers on Thursday. Claude Giroux and Ridly Greig both scored once for the Senators. Leevi Merilainen only had nine saves on 12 shots (.750%) after starting in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The teams have split their two meetings this season, the most recent of which was a 7-2 victory for the Senators in March. Alex DeBrincat led Ottawa with three points (2G 1A). Steven Stamkos and Kucherov each had two points (0G 2A) to lead Tampa Bay. Mads Sogaard got the win, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931%).

FACING OFF

Tampa Bay is averaging 3.39 goals per game for the season, eighth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Senators team that is allowing 3.29 goals a game (21st).

Meanwhile, Ottawa has found the net 3.11 times a game on average, 19th in the league, and the Lightning are allowing opponents to score 3.05 goals per game (13th).

Don’t be surprised to see multiple power play opportunities in this matchup, as the Lightning and Senators have more penalties per game than most teams in the NHL. The Lightning are averaging 4.46 penalties/game, fourth-most in the league, while the Senators have been penalized 4.72 times a game on average (31st).

The Lightning’s 25.28% power play percentage is the second-best in the league, while the Senators rank seventh with a conversion rate of 23.97%. When it comes to penalty killing, Ottawa has the league’s 13th-ranked PK% at 81.21%, while Tampa Bay is 15th at 79.92%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 108 points this season, third-most in the NHL, Kucherov is the top skater for the Lightning. He is among the league leaders with 78 assists (2nd) and has added 30 goals of his own. In the net, Andrei Vasilevskiy (34-21-4) is Tampa Bay’s top goaltender.

He has a 2.63 GAA and a .916% save percentage.Tim Stuetzle and Brady Tkachuk lead the Senators in scoring with 84 and 79 points, respectively. Stuetzle has 37 goals and 47 assists in 75 games, while Tkachuk has 35 goals and 44 assists. Cam Talbot (16-14-2) has the best goals against average for Ottawa at 2.89. He has a save percentage of .900%.

HOME AND AWAY

Tampa Bay is 18-21-1 away from Amalie Arena this season. Ottawa is 22-14-3 at Canadian Tire Centre this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

TB Lightning (-145)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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