(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...Pre-match information:
Date: on the 31th of January, 2019 (Thursday)
Match start: 02:00 (GMT+1)
Tournament: NHL. PPG Paints.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Sullivan’s team is in a fever again and the cause is the weak game in defense. The Penguins have lost four out of five last games, missing steadily at least five pucks. For this period 25 goals have been scored into the gate of the Penguins: five goals in one game on average and it is very easy to calculate.
In the match with New Jersey (3:6) Yevgeni Malkin was on ice more often when the team was missing the goals that resulted into the utility indicator “-1”. In general the Russian has already got “- 20” this season that makes him one of three worst hockey players of the season in NHL if judging by work coefficient.
The club from Pittsburgh has missed two goals being shorthanded against the Devils. But the puck which the opponent scored at game 4 on 5 had an extreme importance. Besides, it is worth speaking about carelessness of Pittsburgh with power play.
Tampa Bay Lightning
John Cooper doesn’t have such problems as Mike Sullivan. His players are moving confidently and calmly on the tournament distance of the regular championship and has high-ranked player who shots a lot.
Nikita Kucherov goes for a record on the gained points this season but he is too shy and notes that it is necessary to move forward. Kucherov has lost all competitions in which he participated last week-end but all the same didn’t lose his humor and healthy optimism.
After renewal of the championship Tampa hasn’t played yet but before the break Tampa has surely won home match over San Jose (6:3).
Head-to-heads
In last nine meetings the teams didn’t finish the matches before overtime and only once didn’t manage to pass total over 6.5 goals. The Penguins have won more matches for this period (6). But to tell the truth the Lightning were stronger in Pennsylvania (4:3) during the current championship.
Match prediction
Pittsburgh to win – 2.74;
Draw – 4.04;
Tampa Bay to win – 2.32.
We won’t be bold and propose combo on the fact that the game will please us with scored goals and the leader of the Eastern Conference will gain points.
Now the Lightning demonstrates stability but they have some problems in defense.
Nevertheless, the Lightning will be able to play reliably on the ground of Tampa Bay.
Our tip: Tampa to lose (no) and total over (5.5) – odds 2.18
