For the most part, we don’t really remember much about seasons past other than which team won the championship that year. Details of the regular season tend to become fuzzy with the passing of tie, which includes the memory of the team that ended the season with the best record. Most NHL betting enthusiasts only concern themselves with trends and recent performances, while the average fan knows that it’s what teams do in the regular season that counts. All of that aside, it is still quite the feat to win the President’s Trophy for the best record in the NHL in any given season, as it is quite the accomplishment to remain consistently good over a grueling 82-game schedule.
The Nashville Predators are in the driver’s seat for that best record right now, but the NHL odds constant favorite Tampa Bay Lightning are breathing right down their neck, just 2 points off the pace. Time is running out to close the gap and take the lead, with the Lightning on the road this week and their next stop in the Big Apple to face the New York Islanders.
They also only have a single win against the Lightning in their last 4 efforts, so not much to like there. Where the Islanders can perhaps find some joy in this game is if they can stay disciplined. They are top 10 in the PP, which could help them against a weak Lightning penalty kill, but they could also be in for a pounding if they hand Tampa PP opportunities, as the Islanders are awful on the PK.
NHL Betting Preview & Prediction: Lightning vs. Islanders
“It’s nothing new. It’s been awhile, just make sure to get the body going as soon as we get off that airplane.”
ICYMI: #Bolts will have to travel and play on same day today after nor’easter cancels team’s flight to Newark Wednesday.https://t.co/sTsqbBFCXV — Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) 22 de marzo de 2018
- When: Thursday, March 22 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Barclays Center, New York
- TV: TSN
- Radio: 1070 AM (Tampa Bay) / 88.7 FM (New York)
- NHL Betting Odds: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5 (Over/Under at 6.5)
Team Records
- All: Tampa Bay Lightning 50-19-4 / New York Islanders 31-32-10
- Home: Tampa Bay Lightning 27-8-2 / New York Islanders 17-14-4
- Away: Tampa Bay Lightning 23-11-2 / New York Islanders 14-18-6
- ATS: Tampa Bay Lightning 34-39 / New York Islanders 36-37
- Over/Under: Tampa Bay Lightning 46-26-1 / New York Islanders 44-26-3
NHL ODDS – STANLEY CUP POSSIBLE MATCHUPS
Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)
- Score: Tampa Bay Lightning 4.10 / New York Islanders 2.00
- Shots: Tampa Bay Lightning 32.50 / New York Islanders 2.00
- Power Play Goals: Tampa Bay Lightning 9 / New York Islanders 6
- Number of Power Plays: Tampa Bay Lightning 42 / New York Islanders 31
- Power Play Percentage: Tampa Bay Lightning 21.43 / New York Islanders 19.35
- Penalty Kill Percentage: Tampa Bay Lightning 80.65 / New York Islanders 78.57
Why bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning?
While the President’s Trophy would certainly be nice, the consolation prize of winning the division and the conference is not too shabby either. Tampa Bay is looking as though they might just manage both, securing home ice advantage all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in the process. The Boston Bruins are still just 4 points back of Tampa Bay, but the Lightning is playing consistently good hockey that is keeping their noses in front, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. While many teams in this league excel at home and struggle on the road, the Lightning seems to be able to play well wherever they are. The come into this game with a 23-11-2 road record, which very much puts them among the best in the league. Where this team really excels is in the offensive zone, as they are the top goal-getters in the NHL. That said, they can be defensively poor, especially on the penalty kill, which is 26th in the league.Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.62
- Shots: 32.52
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.98
- Goals: 2.81
- Shots: 32.66
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.33
Why bet on the New York Islanders?
The Islanders look to be in a little over their heads in this one, as they are currently down in the cellar in the Metropolitan Division. That said, they are coming off a very nice 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, which suggests that they may be able to raise their game a little for the big boys. The Islanders have struggled somewhat when playing teams from the Atlantic Division, going 7-11-1 against that group.
They also only have a single win against the Lightning in their last 4 efforts, so not much to like there. Where the Islanders can perhaps find some joy in this game is if they can stay disciplined. They are top 10 in the PP, which could help them against a weak Lightning penalty kill, but they could also be in for a pounding if they hand Tampa PP opportunities, as the Islanders are awful on the PK.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.22
- Shots: 31.15
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.78
- Goals: 3.60
- Shots: 35.73
- PP/PK Percentage: 25.00
Latest NHL Betting Trends
- Tampa Bay is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Tampa Bay is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games
- The total has gone OVER in 17 of Tampa Bay’s last 23 games
- NY Islanders is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- NY Islanders is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Islanders’s last 5 games
