Winnipeg Jets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, NHL Odds
Winnipeg’s Eastern Conference road swing continues on Saturday when they head to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning. The Jets’ slim playoff hopes took another hit on Friday when they were blown out 6-1 by the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay is fighting for positioning after officially clinching a fifth consecutive postseason berth with a 4-3 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
The Bolts are -255 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.0.
Jets vs. Lightning NHL Betting Odds
It was a high scoring affair the first time these teams met this season, with Winnipeg downing Tampa 7-4 at home on March 8. Mark Scheifele paced the Jets with a goal and three assists. It was the third straight time the total has gone Over in this head-to-head series.
The playoffs are looking further away each day for the Jets, who have dropped five of their last seven games. They’re 40-35 against the spread for the season, including 21-17 ATS on the road. Goals have been easy to come by, however, as the total has gone Over in six of Winnipeg’s last eight games overall.
Tampa doesn’t seem too concerned with playoff seeding as they also enter this contest with losses in five of their last seven games. They’re 33-41 ATS this year and have failed to cover in 22 of 36 home games. The total has gone Over in five of the Lightning’s last seven home games. It’s worth noting, however, that 12 of their last 18 games overall have actually gone Under.
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg ran into one of the hottest teams in the NHL on Friday, with their playoff chances taking a big hit. Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Jets’ only goal. Connor Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 26 shots before being replaced by Eric Comrie at the start of the third period. Comrie made 15 saves on 17 shots. Kyle Connor, who leads the team in both goals (42) and points (85), was held off the scoresheet and finished minus-1 in just over 22 minutes of ice time.
With Hellebuyck pulled after two periods, there’s a chance the 28-year-old could be in line for the start again on Saturday. Hellebuyck has had the heaviest workload in the NHL this season, starting a league-high 63 games and facing a league-high 2,059 shots. The Michigan native is 27-26-10, with a 2.96 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Comrie is 8-3-1 with a 2.76 GAA and .910 SV.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Anthony Cirelli scored the overtime winner on Thursday as the Bolts officially clinched a playoff spot. Ross Colton, Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov scored in regulation. Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled midway through the second period after allowing three goals on 13 shots. It was the first time Vasilevskiy was pulled in four years. Brian Elliott stopped all 13 shots he faced in relief. The Bolts have now qualified for the playoffs eight times over the last nine years. They’re trying to become the first team to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since the New York Islanders won four straight from 1980-83. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the team in goals (32) and points (82).
Tampa Bay will likely turn back to Vasilevskiy on Saturday. Last year’s Conn Smythe winner is 35-17-5, with a 2.46 GAA and .917 SV. In his last five starts dating back to April 4, Vasilevskiy has allowed 16 goals and posted an 0-3-1 record. Elliott could see more ice time in the lead up to the playoffs as Vasilevskiy rests and works out the kinks in his game. Elliott has had a great year as the No. 2 option, going 9-3-3 with a 2.23 GAA and .921 SV.
WIN
TB