Lightning vs. Jets Prediction
Two of the best teams in the NHL meet tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning play at the Winnipeg Jets. Is a bet on Winnipeg the right way to go here or is Tampa Bay going to win a ninth straight game?
Game Snapshot
45 Tampa Bay Lightning at 46 Winnipeg Jets
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Bell MTS Place at 7PM ET
TV: SUN (TB)
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Lightning are a -120 favorite to win on the moneyline. The total is set at 6.5 goals. As of Sunday afternoon, 57 percent of public bets are siding with host Winnipeg. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Lightning roll past Maple Leafs
Tampa Bay won its eighth straight game Thursday night with a 4-1 home victory over Toronto. The Lightning improve to 25-7-1 with the triumph. After the Maple Leafs scored first, the hosts scored four unanswered goals the rest of the way. Anthony Cirelli tied it at 1-1 with 11:40 left in the first period on a shorthanded goal with Ryan Callahan assisting. Nikita Kucherov gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 advantage in the second on a power play goal as Victor Hedman and J.T. Miller recorded assists. The Lightning scored twice in the final minute of the second period with an Alex Killorn goal giving them a two-goal cushion with assists going to Cirelli and Miller. Tyler Johnson added an insurance goal with two seconds left in the period as Kucherov and Dan Girardi providing assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 48 of 49 shots sent his way to record the win.
Jets secure fourth straight win
Winnipeg topped host Chicago 4-3 Friday night in overtime for its fourth consecutive victory. Mark Scheifele scored two goals in the win including the game-winner 50 seconds into OT. It was his 20th goal of the season. Josh Morissey and Blake Wheeler assisted on the goal in the extra session. Scheifele gave the Jets a 1-0 advantage in the first period on a power play goal, while the hosts tied it at 1-1 later in the first. After the Blackhawks grabbed a 2-1 lead in the second period, Winnipeg bounced back to take the advantage on goals by Patrik Laine and Mathieu Perreault. Chcago ended up tying the score with eight seconds left in regulation before the Jets won in overtime. Laurent Brossoit stopped 34 of 37 shots in the winning effort.
NHL Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Lightning are 20-7 in their last 27 games versus the Central Division. Tampa Bay is 38-15 in its last 53 games overall.
Winnipeg
The Jets are 6-1 in their last seven games playing on one day of rest. Winnipeg is 55-19 in its last 74 home games.
Prediction:
The Jets are typically dominant at home and are red-hot right now. Tampa Bay is too, but this is a long way to travel and it will be a loud environment. Winnipeg has been playing its top line guys like Scheifele huge minutes lately and I think the hosts lean on its big-play guys to take care of business tonight.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: WINNIPEG JETS +100