Predators on Prowl for Fourth Win in Row
The Nashville Predators have had quite the swing through the Eastern Conference with wins over Metropolitan Division-leading New Jersey as well as the New York Islanders. Now the road trip ends against the reigning Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Nashville can reach the .500 mark on the road with a win. The Predators are 24th out of 32 NHL teams with an average of 2.73 goals per game on the road. Tampa Bay is tied for third in scoring average at home, scoring 3.85 goals per game.
Nashville is 10th in the NHL with an average of 11 penalty minutes per game. A lack of discipline could spell trouble when facing a Tampa Bay team that ranks third in power-play goals per game and fourth in power-play percentage.
According to the NHL playoff odds, the Lightning (+1400) is tied for sixth in the odds to win the Stanley Cup. The Predator (+8000) are tied for 21st.
Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Predators vs Lightning. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.
Johansen Delivers for Predators
It hasn’t been the best of stretches for veteran forward Ryan Johansen when Nashville began its three-game road trip. He hadn’t scored in seven games and had just three assists during that stretch to go with a -3 defensive rating.
Perhaps his role in an improbable win over New Jersey will get him going. He assisted on the tying goal with 10 seconds left in the third period and scored the game-winning goal in overtime. He scored earlier in the game as Johansen registered a season-high three points.
For a team ranked 27th in power-play percentage and 28th in goals per game, getting the three-time 20-goal scorer going could be just what Nashville needs.
Goalie Kevin Lankinen had a season-high 48 saves as Nashville followed up that win by topping the New York Islanders 4-1.
No you were not imagining things when you saw Lanky cover a puck with his bare hand last night pic.twitter.com/2xVDFADZxA
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 3, 2022
The Las Vegas odds total went under in six of Nashville‘s last nine games.
Scoop on Free Play from the Locker Room
Power Surge for Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s rise up the Eastern Conference standings has coincided with improved production on the power play.
Tampa Bay had at least one power-play goal in 10 games in a row before Tuesday’s loss to Detroit. Tampa Bay was 15 of 36 with the man advantage during that stretch with a 41.7% success rate on the power play the best in the NHL over that span.
Nikita Kucherov has led the way with four goals and seven assists, Brayden Point chipped in with three goals and three assists, Nicholas Paul scored three times while defenseman Mikhail Sergachev had a goal and seven assists.
The NHL betting lines total has gone over in nine of Tampa Bay‘s last 12 home games.
Predators vs Lightning Injuries
Predators vs Lightning Head-to-Head
Tampa Bay has won each of the last three matchups with Nashville and 10 of the last 12. Two of the last three meetings were decided by one goal.
The Lightning won the first meeting this season with Steven Stamkos scoring the game-winning goal in overtime in the 3-2 victory. Stamkos has three goals and four assists in three games against Nashville since the start of last season while Kucherov has three goals and five assists.
Four of the last six games between the teams have finished under the total.
Predators vs Lightning Game Information
- Game: Predators (12-9-2) vs Lightning (15-9-1)
- Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
- Day/Time: Thursday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. ET
- Predators vs Lightning Live stream: NHL.TV
Predators vs Lightning Betting Lines
Predators vs Lightning Picks & Prediction
Tampa Bay is looking to bounce back from a surprising loss at home to Detroit when the Lightning outshot the visiting Red Wings 46-26 and won 28 of the 50 faceoffs. Tampa Bay fell behind by two goals after cutting the lead to a goal, but it took just 90 seconds for Detroit to regain the two-goal cushion.
There were 10 power plays in the first game of the season between the teams with each team going on the man advantage five times each. Nashville would be well advised to limit that number in the second meeting against Tampa Bay.
Nashville has covered against the NHL betting lines in just four of 11 road games while Tampa Bay is only 5-8 against the spread at home.
Nine of Tampa Bay’s first 13 home games have finished over the total. The total for this matchup is currently at six. Other numbers to consider – Tampa Bay is 14-7-1 when listed as a favorite with Nashville 4-6-1 as the underdog.
Forward Cody Glass is questionable for Nashville while defensemen Mark Borowiecki and Ryan McDonagh are both on injured reserve. For Tampa Bay, Hayden Fleury is questionable, winger Rudolfs Balcers isn’t expected to return until later in December and defenseman Brent Seabrook is out for the season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are listed at -190 in our Vegas NHL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Lightning, you have a chance to win $53. The Nashville Predators are +165, offering a chance to win $165 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Tampa Bay Lightning a 65.52% chance to win, with Nashville Predators at 37.74%.
