A 5-0-1 run since the final week of March has got the Penguins within a couple points of the East’s final playoff spot, which is still the logjam it’s been for the last few months. Tampa Bay’s cleared that logjam and hold the top Wild-Card spot by a comfortable amount, but are just two points back of Toronto for third in the Atlantic Division albeit with one more game played.

Puck drop at PPG Paints Arena gets going at 1 p.m. EDT with the oddsmakers listing this tilt as a pick’em, and the over-under at six on the NHL odds.

Lightning vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds

Sunday decides the season series between Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, currently tied at one apiece. The under hit in both Lightning–Penguins contests earlier this season, which doesn’t line up with the other history between these teams — seven of the last nine Lightning–Penguins contests played in Pittsburgh have finished over the total.

Over a current six-game point streak the Penguins have scored no fewer than three goals each game. The Penguins still rank 21st in the NHL in scoring so the consistent scoring is all that was needed to get a late run going. And some stellar goaltending from Alex Nedeljkovic, who’s yet to lose in regulation since February 9 and is now Pittsburgh’s number one.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot, so outside their own race with Toronto for third in the Atlantic Division the most interesting race in Tampa is Nikita Kucherov’s to finish as the NHL’s top scorer. A three-point night on Thursday got Kucherov back in the lead with 133 points in 75 games this season. Kucherov’s got multiple points in three of his last four outings.

The Lightning are in a serious groove as the post-season approaches, but what else is new. Last month they put together a nine-game point streak, and after a regulation loss Monday the Lightning have gone on to win two straight contests by three goals. 

Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to start in net. Vasilevskiy’s coming off his best month of the season, going 8-1-1 with a .915 save percentage.

Pittsburgh Penguins

On Thursday the Penguins faced their biggest game of the season so far, and then Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin went point-less after carrying a struggling squad back into contention. But for once the depth on the Pens stepped up as Ryan Shea, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Michael Bunting, and Lars Eller all found the back of the net in a 4-1 victory at Washington. Shea, acquired in the Jake Guentzel trade with Carolina last month, tallied both his first NHL goal and point. 

Prior to Thursday Crosby had at least two points in five of six games and is now up to a team-high 84 points. While the 36-year-old is still a ways away from Kucherov numbers, if Pittsburgh is to make the playoffs alongside Crosby’s late-season tear he’s going to once again be in Hart Memorial Trophy conversation.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Penguins?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lightning Team Leaders

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 144
+ / -	Victor Hedman 18
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 306
Penalty Mins	Michael Eyssimont 104
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 30
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.9

PIT

Points	Sidney Crosby 94
+ / -	Marcus Pettersson 28
Shots	Sidney Crosby 278
Penalty Mins	Evgeni Malkin 70
Wins	Tristan Jarry 19
GAA	Tristan Jarry 2.91

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 7
+ / -	Nick Perbix 0
Shots	Steven Stamkos 15
Penalty Mins	Nicholas Paul 6
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 1
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 3.22

PIT

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Penguins Team Leaders

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 144
+ / -	Victor Hedman 18
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 306
Penalty Mins	Michael Eyssimont 104
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 30
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.9

PIT

Points	Sidney Crosby 94
+ / -	Marcus Pettersson 28
Shots	Sidney Crosby 278
Penalty Mins	Evgeni Malkin 70
Wins	Tristan Jarry 19
GAA	Tristan Jarry 2.91

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 7
+ / -	Nick Perbix 0
Shots	Steven Stamkos 15
Penalty Mins	Nicholas Paul 6
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 1
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 3.22

PIT

Points
+ / -
Shots	Did not qualify
Penalty Mins
Wins
GAA

Injuries

Tampa Bay

Darren Raddysh (D)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 28 / 04 / 24

Victor Hedman (D)

Ques Sun Illness - 17 / 04 / 24

Luke Glendening (C)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 16 / 04 / 24

Tyler Motte (C)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 24

Anthony Duclair (LW)

Ques Sat Illness - 11 / 04 / 24

Haydn Fleury (D)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 24

Anthony Cirelli (C)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24

Brandon Hagel (LW)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24

Tanner Jeannot (LW)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 04 / 04 / 24

Jonas Johansson (G)

Early May Lower Body - 01 / 04 / 24

Pittsburgh

Emil Bemstrom (RW)

Out Wed Undisclosed - 17 / 04 / 24

Lars Eller (C)

Prob Thurs Illness - 10 / 04 / 24

Ryan Shea (D)

Prob Mon Personal - 08 / 04 / 24

Tristan Jarry (G)

Prob Thurs Illness - 02 / 04 / 24

John Ludvig (D)

Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 04 / 24

Michael Bunting (LW)

Prob Mon Illness - 31 / 03 / 24

Ryan Graves (D)

Late April Concussion - 28 / 03 / 24

Noel Acciari (C)

out for season Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 24

Ryan Graves (D)

Ques Tues Personal - 22 / 03 / 24

Jeff Carter (RW)

Ques Thurs Upper Body - 19 / 03 / 24

Injuries

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Darren Raddysh (D)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 28 / 04 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Raddysh is dealing with an unknown injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against the Panthers for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Victor Hedman (D)	Ques Sun	Illness - 17 / 04 / 24	4-2	3-2-1	+ -
Hedman has an illness, and it is unclear if he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Panthers.
Luke Glendening (C)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 16 / 04 / 24	4-2	3-2-1	+ -
Glendening has a shoulder injury, but he is expected to take part in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Panthers.
Tyler Motte (C)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 24	4-4	3-3-2	+ -
Motte is nursing a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Anthony Duclair (LW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 11 / 04 / 24	5-4	4-3-2	+ -
Duclair missed the last game with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will suit up Saturday versus the Capitals.
Haydn Fleury (D)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 24	6-5	6-3-2	+ -
Fleury is idle with an unspecified ailment, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Anthony Cirelli (C)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24	7-5	6-4-2	+ -
Cirelli missed the last contest with an unknown injury, but it is likely that he will face the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Brandon Hagel (LW)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24	7-5	6-4-2	+ -
Hagel was lifted from the previous clash with an unspecified ailment, but it is expected that he will suit up Saturday versus the Penguins.
Tanner Jeannot (LW)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 04 / 04 / 24	7-5	6-4-2	+ -
Jeannot has been absent from the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Tuesday's battle with the Blue Jackets.
Jonas Johansson (G)	Early May	Lower Body - 01 / 04 / 24	8-6	6-6-2	+ -
Johansson is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and he will remain idle until at least the beginning of May.

Pittsburgh

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Emil Bemstrom (RW)	Out Wed	Undisclosed - 17 / 04 / 24	1-0	0-1	+ -
Bemstrom has an unknown issue, and he will not play against the Islanders on Wednesday.
Lars Eller (C)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 10 / 04 / 24	2-2	2-2	+ -
Eller is ailing from an illness, but he is expected to be active for Thursday's clash versus the Red Wings.
Ryan Shea (D)	Prob Mon	Personal - 08 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Shea is tending to an immigration issue, but it is likely that he will play against the Maple Leafs on Monday.
Tristan Jarry (G)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 02 / 04 / 24	6-2	5-3	+ -
Jarry missed the previous game with an illness, but it is forecasted that he will face the Capitals on Thursday.
John Ludvig (D)	Ques Mon	Illness - 01 / 04 / 24	6-3	6-3	+ -
Ludvig has sat out the last four contests due to an illness, and it is unknown if he will participate in Monday's matchup with the Maple Leafs.
Michael Bunting (LW)	Prob Mon	Illness - 31 / 03 / 24	6-3	6-3	+ -
Bunting was removed from the last contest due to an illness, but it is expected that he will be active for Monday's matchup with the Rangers.
Ryan Graves (D)	Late April	Concussion - 28 / 03 / 24	7-4	6-5	+ -
Graves has been placed on the injured reserve list while going through concussion protocol, and he is not expected to return until the end of April.
Noel Acciari (C)	out for season	Lower Body - 24 / 03 / 24	8-5	7-6	+ -
Acciari has been shuttled to the long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury, and he is likely to miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Ryan Graves (D)	Ques Tues	Personal - 22 / 03 / 24	8-6	8-6	+ -
Graves has missed the previous two games for the birth of his child, and it is unclear if he will be available for Tuesday's matchup with the Hurricanes.
Jeff Carter (RW)	Ques Thurs	Upper Body - 19 / 03 / 24	9-6	9-6	+ -
Carter has been absent from the previous four contests due to an upper-body injury, and it is undetermined if he will suit up Thursday versus the Blue Jackets.