Two of the top teams in the NHL are set to renew acquaintances in the Music City on Monday when the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Western Conference-leading Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Sportsbooks opened the Preds as -135 home favorites with a total of 6.
- The Lightning are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games vs the Predators.
- The Lightning are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games on the road vs teams with winning records.
- The Predators are 9-0 SU in their last nine games vs teams with winning records.
Lightning vs Predators Game Center
Unlikely heroes stepping up for the Predators
Nashville snapped a three-game slide (0-2-1 SU) with a 5-3 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday as forward Calle Jarnkrok recorded a hat trick. Jarnkrok, who doubled his goal output on the season in the contest, became the second player in franchise history to notch a power-play, short-handed and even-strength goal in the same game. After failing to find the back of the net through 18 games, center Nick Bonino has scored in back-to-back tilts.
Tampa Bay’s 6-5 win over Philadelphia on Saturday saw the Lightning cough up a four-goal lead before getting an overtime goal from Anthony Cirelli to improve to 2-1-0 on their road trip. The Bolts’ fourth line of Adam Erne, Cedric Paquette and Ryan Callahan combined to register two goals and three assists in a game in which Tampa Bay was outshot 45-26.
Predators have flat-out owned the Lightning over the years
The Predators have had a major edge in this series, going 8-0-2 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Lightning. Nashville earned a 4-1 win on November 1 as goalie Pekka Rinne improved to 8-0-1 in his career against Tampa Bay with 42 saves in his first game back from injury. Nashville is 9-0 SU in its previous nine games against teams with winning records.
When it comes to covering the puckline as underdogs, the Lightning have been rock-solid. Tampa Bay is 15-2 on the puckline in its past 17 as dogs. Betting them on the puckline is not going to be cheap in this one, however, as Sportsbook opened the Bolts’ +1.5 price at a steep -245.
Preds turn to Rinne in the crease
Rinne (7-2-1, 1.66 goals-against average, .943 save percentage) is expected to get the start in net for the Predators. Rinne turned aside 25 of 28 shots in Nashville's win over the Kings and is 1-1-1 in his last three starts.
