Lightning look to Dominate Dormant Ducks
Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim Ducks are disappointed in lackluster starts to the NHL season.
But according to NHL futures odds, the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions Lightning has more reason to be disappointed despite being slightly below .500. Tampa Bay saw a 10-game winning streak vs. the Los Angeles Kings come to an end on Tuesday night.
The Ducks have had a hard time getting out of the gates. Anaheim has lost five straight since winning its season opener.
Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Lightning vs Ducks. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.
Lightning Hope to Salvage West Coast Swing
The Tampa Bay Lightning hope to find a way for their defense to get back on track. The Lightning is allowing opponents 34.8 shots per game on the net, which ranks 28th in the NHL. Despite allowing a lot of chances for opponents, the Lightning’s games have been shootouts.
Tampa Bay has seen the over go 3-3-1 in its last seven games. The Lightning, who have been favored in their last four games, is 2-2 when they were expected to beat their opponents. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy hasn’t been able to pick up his teammates, recording a .914 save percentage in his five starts.
Anyone betting online will see there is also a stark drop-off when Tampa Bay turns to backup goalie Brian Elliott, who has a .899 save percentage.
Road-Weary Ducks Eye Turnaround
Anaheim has spent a good chunk of the early season away from home, resulting in an 0-4-1 record. But what has been really hurting the Ducks is how their special teams have played.
Anaheim is 26th in the play on the power play, only stopping their opponents 71.4 percent of the time.
The Ducks also have hardly scored on the power play, converting on only 10.0 percent of their opportunities, which ranks 26th in the league. When it comes to Vegas betting odds, Anaheim hasn’t gotten a lot of respect this season.
Except for the season opener against the Seattle Kraken, the Ducks have been underdogs in every other game. Anaheim was expected to be rebuilt before the season started.
Lightning vs Ducks Game Injuries
Lightning vs Ducks Name Head-to-Head
The Lightning and Ducks have only played 21 times since both came into the league in the early 1990s.
Being on opposite coasts means the NHL tries to keep their meetings to a minimum. Tampa Bay leads the all-time series 13-8, but the teams split a pair of meetings last season.
Lightning vs Ducks Game Information
- Game: Lightning (3-4-0) vs Ducks (1-4-1)
- Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 10:30 p.m.
- Lightning vs Ducks Live stream: NHL.TV
Lightning vs Ducks Betting Lines
Lightning vs Ducks Prediction
The Lightning comes into the game favored at -145 on the moneyline. While the Lightning aren’t in desperation mode yet, clearly, they are starting to get heavy legs from making sustained playoff runs over the past few years.
While there is no Fountain of Youth, Tampa Bay is hoping to dig in with its experience to find a way to climb back into the Atlantic Division race. The Ducks are likely looking at a season where they are more focused on development rather than results.
However, following a long stretch away from home, being back at the Honda Center may energize Anaheim. The Ducks will find a way to beat the numbers and extend Tampa Bay’s middling start with their first win of the season as underdogs.
Anaheim will win an ugly, low-scoring contest.
Lightning vs Ducks Trends
Lightning vs Ducks Edge
Lightning vs Ducks Results
Lightning vs Ducks Game Summary
