The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to get back on track at PPG Paints Arena after dropping three straight games. The Pens have been hit-or-miss early in the season and it doesn’t get any easier for the reigning Stanley Cup champions as they host the East-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts opened as +105 road-dogs to get the win tonight in the Steel City.
- Tampa is 1-4 ATS in its last five games.
- Pittsburgh is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games at home.
- The total has gone UNDER in four of Pittsburgh’s last six games at home.
There’s something lacking for Pittsburgh this season and it may come down to their captain Sidney Crosby. The Cole Harbour native is off to a slow start in the scoring department, only notching 19 points in 24 games. While most NHL players would be thrilled with that kind of production, for Crosby, it’s below standard. The Penguins need their star to pick up the pace while Evgeni Malkin remains sidelined with an upper-body injury. Bettors may want to stick to the moneyline if they plan to back the Pens in this matchup as their 2-7 puckline record at home this season is awful.
Tampa has hit their first bump in the road all year after lighting up the league for the first month of the season. The Lightning have dropped two of their last three games and got stumped versus the Capitals yesterday. Although they’ve stumbled, you can’t ignore their road success this season. Tampa has gone 7-3 SU and ATS away from Amalie Arena and still lead the league in goals per game with Steven Stamkos (36 points) and Nikita Kucherov (34 points) at the top of the leaderboard.
The total opened at 5.5 and an OVER should be an easy wager to consider. The Penguins are second-last in the league in goals allowed (3.5 goals per game) and the OVER has hit in four of their last six games. When you factor in that the OVER has hit in nine of the last 10 in this matchup, bettors and fans should expect a score-fest.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Tampa Bay Lightning have seen them go 16-4-2 so far this season, while the Penguins are at 11-10-3. In totals betting, the Pittsburgh Penguins are 13-11, while the Lightning are 13-9. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Pittsburgh vs Tampa Bay injuries news.
The Pittsburgh Penguins sit at No. 7 in the current NHL power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Tampa Bay Lightning sit at a No. 1 on the same chart.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Pittsburgh's No. 26-ranked offense, averaging 2.67 goals per game, against a Lightning defense that ranks No. 4 at 2.59 goals allowed. The Penguins power play is averaging 24.72% while the Lightning defense kills off 84% of their penalties.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Lightning were a 3-1 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Capitals. That made winners of bettors who got Washington at +138 on the moneyline, while the total score (4) was good news for UNDER bettors.
Pittsburgh was a 4-3 loser in its last match on the road against the Bruins. They lost as -119 underdogs, while the total score of 7 made winners of OVER bettors.
- Tampa Bay is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Tampa Bay is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games
- Tampa Bay is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
- Tampa Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
- Pittsburgh is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Tampa Bay at Buffalo, Tuesday, November 28th
Pittsburgh home to Philadelphia, Monday, November 27th
