The Tampa Bay Lightning look to even up the best of seven series tonight, Wednesday April 20th, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins lead the Lightning 2-1 and have won three of their last five meetings. NHL oddsmakers have the Lightning as -150 moneyline home favourites over the Penguins (+135) with the over/under set at 5 goals. Be sure to check the Penguins vs Lightning NHL Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
Pittsburgh (2-1) won 3-2 thanks to goals from Maxime Talbot, Arron Asham and the winner by Tyler Kennedy. The Pens have to prevent the Lightning from consistently manufacturing a couple of power-play goals, the way Tampa Bay did in Games 2 and 3. "You never going into the game thinking, 'Well, we'll give them two,' " Penguins penalty-killer Max Talbot said. Fact is, the Penguins rarely let that happen during the regular season. Even the Lightning, which has an outstanding power play, scored just twice against them in 21 tries with the extra man before the playoffs. No matter how the Lightning opts to approach its opportunities with the extra man, the Penguins seem confident they can come up with an antidote."I don't think we're down on ourselves," Talbot said. "It's something that we know we can improve, that we know we can do better, but it's been one of our strengths all year.” Special teams are going to be huge in the playoffs, huge in this series. And we need to get better." Precedent, in the form of their 86.1 percent kill rate in the regular season, suggests they can. "Our guys have been good all year," Assistant Coach Granato said. "They know what they're supposed to do, they put their bodies on the line to block shots, and we've gotten big saves from our goalies all year. Sidney Crosby, out since early January with a concussion, did skate, but his status has not changed, he still isn't allowed contact, and he is not expected back for this series.
Tampa Bay (1-2) has scored four power-play goals on 11 chances against the league's top-ranked regular-season penalty kill and killed all 15 of the Penguins' power plays. What's hurting the Lightning is five-on-five play, where the Pens are outscoring it 6-2, excluding a Pens empty-net goal in Game 1. "They're a little sharper around our net five-on-five than we are around their net,'' Boucher said. "We're not going to score five or six goals five-on-five against (Penguins G Marc-Andre) Fleury. Chances are he might let in one five-on-five, but if we do score one or two on the power play, it has to be enough at home to win a game.'' They are not using a power-play scheme they used the most during the season or one the Penguins extensively scouted. Bylsma also credited the Lightning with keeping their power play simple. "They've been real good at not being real fancy and getting pucks to the front of the net,'' Bylsma said Tuesday.” They are not particularly hard, wired shots, but just pucks in that area for tips or rebounds.'' The Lightning has won four Game 4s in franchise history and gone on to win those series all four times. It is 1-4 in series in which it has lost Game 4.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Under is 18-6-4 in the last 28 meetings in Tampa Bay.
Home team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Under is 14-6-2 in the last 22 meetings.
Penguins are 7-15-1 in the last 23 meetings in Tampa Bay.
Lightning are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Lightning are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
Penguins are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Penguins are 6-1 in their last 7 overall.
Penguins are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
Penguins are 5-1 in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Penguins vs Lightning
When: Wednesday, April 20, 7:00 PM ET
Pick: Lightning -150
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The Bottom Line: The Lightning can get the win if they come out hard and fast. Score first and get your fans going. Be sure to check Penguins vs Lightning Hockey Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
