The New Jersey Devils will try to even the series in Game 2 vs the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. The Devils dropped the first game 5-2 on Thursday and have lost four of their last six games on the road. Tampa, on the other hand, is 7-3 SU in its last 10 playoff games at home and opened as a -230 favorite to take a 2-0 series lead.
- The total has gone OVER in five of the Lightning' last six games in the playoffs.
- The Devils are 2-5 SU in their last seven games in the playoffs.
- Tampa Bay is 7-16 ATS in its last 23 games.
The Lightning jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Game 1 with two of those goals at even strength. The line of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Yanni Gourde dominated the game and notched three of Tampa’s five goals. The Lightning has been a juggernaut for most of the season and at home, they didn’t give up much, finishing 20-7 SU in 27 games at Amalie Arena vs Eastern Conference teams.
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 29 of 31 shots and the front-runner of the Vezina Trophy was instrumental in stopping the Devils momentum in the second and third periods. Tampa held the Devils to only five shots in the third period and if bettors plan to wager on the Lightning, stick to their moneyline as the Bolts are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games at home vs teams with winning records.
The Devils held their own for as long as they could with Taylor Hall scoring and then assisting on both of New Jersey’s goals. The Devils may be 1-5 SU in their last six games in Tampa but backers will recall that New Jersey took three straight games vs Tampa this season before this most recent loss. The Devs will go back to Keith Kincaid back in net for this tilt. While he got lit up for five goals, he won seven of his last eight starts going into the postseason with a 2.25 goals-against-average.
The total opened at 6 and OVER bettors have seen a profit when these two teams clash as the OVER has hit in three of the last four games in this matchup, with an average combined score of 6.5 goals per game.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Tampa Bay Lightning were listed earlier today as -295 moneyline favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark (including Sportsbook), while odds makers set the Sportsbook betting total around 6.
Odds Shark computer score prediction models pick a possible 3.6-2.2 win for the Lightning on Saturday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
This season the Tampa Bay Lightning are 55-23-5 overall while the New Jersey Devils are 44-30-9. As for the totals, Tampa Bay is 50-31-2 on the OU, and New Jersey is 43-38-2. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Tampa Bay vs New Jersey injuries news.
The Tampa Bay Lightning sit at No. 10 in the current NHL power poll here at Odds Shark, while the New Jersey Devils sit at a No. 3 on the same chart.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Tampa Bay's No. 1-ranked offense, averaging 3.63 goals per game, against a Devils defense that ranks No. 18 at 3 goals allowed. The Lightning power play is averaging 24.28% while the Devils defense kills off 81.4% of their penalties.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Last time out for New Jersey, they were a 5-2 loser as they battled the Lightning on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Lightning at -212 were rewarded, while the 7 combined goals moved the game OVER for totals bettors.
- New Jersey is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
- New Jersey is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of New Jersey's last 8 games
- New Jersey is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Tampa Bay is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Tampa Bay is 7-16 ATS in its last 23 games
- Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
- Tampa Bay is 7-16 ATS in its last 23 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
New Jersey home to Tampa Bay, Monday, April 16th
