The league-best Tampa Bay Lightning have been on cruise control all season long and are well on their way to yet another Atlantic Division title as a result. The Bolts will have a tough test tonight when they welcome the Calgary Flames to Amalie Arena. Sportsbooks opened the Lightning as -155 home favorites with a total of 6.5.
- The Flames are 0-5 ATS in their last five games.
- The total has gone OVER in the Flames’ last five games on the road (avg. combined score: 7.0).
- The Lightning are 11-3 SU in their last 14 games as home favorites.
Flames vs Lightning Game Center
Kucherov looks to be back on track
NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov had gone 11 games without a goal before scoring twice in Sunday’s 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers to push his point total to 84. In the last meeting between the Lightning and Flames on December 20, Kucherov registered a pair of assists in a 5-4 shootout win for Tampa Bay. The Flames will need to tighten up defensively after giving up 11 goals in their last two games against the Lightning – both losses.
Calgary sits second in the Western Conference with 74 points but has dropped three of its last four contests (1-2-1) after a 4-3 shootout setback to Vancouver on Saturday despite posting 47 shots. Left-winger Matthew Tkachuk has been held off the scoresheet in five straight tilts and will look to break out of that slump in his 200th NHL game tonight. Fellow forward Elias Lindholm hasn’t had any of those issues, however, as the 24-year-old has registered at least a point in 11 of his last 12 games.
Flames are going OVER on the road with ease
When the Flames have hit the road, high-scoring affairs tend to follow. In Calgary’s past five away from home, the OVER is a perfect 5-0 with an average combined score of seven goals. On the season, the Flames are 33-22-1 O/U.
As far as puckline trends go, the Flames might be worth a look tonight. Calgary is 4-1 on the puckline in the past five meetings with the Lightning, and Tampa Bay is 0-3 on the puckline in its previous three as home favorites. Sportsbook was dealing the Flames’ +1.5 puckline for a price of -190 as of this writing.
My pick: take the OVER
Both the Flames and Lightning have been OVER machines this season, and I’m not expecting the offensive fireworks to slow down any time soon. Tampa Bay ranks first in the NHL in goals (217) and Calgary is third (202). Don’t overthink this one – take the OVER.
