NHL predictions: Lightning heating up at just the right time

NHL predictions: Lightning heating up at just the right time

For much of this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been sitting in playoff position, but it has been precarious. 

The Lightning still have stars that were the cornerstone pieces of their recent Stanley Cup winning team, so there has been an expectation that their championship pedigree will shine through when they need it. This could be that time, as the Lightning have reeled off four consecutive wins, moving into the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Those wins have helped to give the Lightning some breathing room. With 80 points in 68 games, the Lightning are four points up on the Detroit Red Wings, five ahead of the Washington Capitals and seven points ahead of the New York Islanders. 

The Lightning are priced at +2676* to win the Stanley Cup, which would be their third in five seasons. They are in California this week, playing at San Jose Thursday night, at Los Angeles Saturday and at Anaheim on Sunday.

Here are some best bets to consider on Pinnacle for Thursday’s schedule.

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Best Money Line Bet

In the small sample of games since the March 8 trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets have controlled 54.5 percent of score-and-venue-adjusted expected goals during five-on-five play, which is up a couple of percent compared to before the deadline. They have also won five of their past six games on the road.

The Jets visit the New Jersey Devils, a team that have had strong possession numbers, but have seen those numbers dip down to 46.6 percent of expected goals since the trade deadline. The Devils have not won consecutive home games since January 5 and are coming off a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. 

It has been such a disappointing season for the Devils and a visit from the high-flying Jets is not likely to make it any better.

Jets ML (-123*)

Best Handicap Bet

The Carolina Hurricanes have won seven of their past eight games, with six of those seven wins coming by a margin of two goals or more. They are controlling nearly 63 percent of expected goals since the trade deadline.

That presents a tough test for the Philadelphia Flyers, a team that ranks 30th with just under 42 percent of expected goals since the deadline. 

With injuries on the blueline, the Flyers are going to be overwhelmed against a Hurricanes squad that bolstered their attack at the deadline with the additions of Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The Flyers are still clinging to a playoff position and need points from this game, but the Hurricanes have been playing at such a high level that it will be tough for Philadelphia to keep pace.

Hurricanes -1.5 (+103*)

Best Total Bet

Two teams that have trouble defending open the door for this game to hit the Over. The Chicago Blackhawks are tied for 27th with a goals against average of 3.76 over the past month. 

While Chicago is not great at keeping the puck out of their net, the Anaheim Ducks are worse, tied for 30th with a goals against average of 4.12 in the last month. 

Anaheim’s shaky defensive play is ripe to be exploited by Chicago’s star rookie, Connor Bedard, who has 21 points in 16 games since returning from a broken jaw. 

Blackhawks-Ducks Over 6 (-109*)

Best Player Prop Bet

St. Louis Blues winger Jake Neighbours has scored 22 goals in 69 games and has been a fixture on the Blues power play, recording 13 of his 32 points when the Blues have had the man advantage.

The Blues are visiting the Ottawa Senators, a team that have really struggled on the penalty kill. In the past month, the Senators have allowed 11 goals against in just under 47 minutes of four-on-five play. That works out to 14.1 goals against per 60 minutes, ranking 31st.

Neighbours is riding a four-game point streak, and his power play role puts him in a good spot to extend that streak in Ottawa.

Jake Neighbours Over 0.5 points (+110*)

Get great NHL odds on numerous markets for every game this season with Pinnacle.

 

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