Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 3/2/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Penguins (+130) Lightning (-154)

Amalie Arena is the site where the Tampa Bay Lightning (37-19-4) will attempt to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins (30-21-9) on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has Pittsburgh at +130 and Tampa Bay is at -154. The total has been set at 7.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 3-1 victory over the Predators in their previous contest . The Penguins had a middle of the road offensive output in this victory. In the game, they scored on 3 out of the 34 shots they attempted. Additionally, they had 3 attempts on the power play but weren't able to net one. Pittsburgh amassed 4 penalty mins for this game.

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Pittsburgh Penguins opponents have amassed 191 power play opportunities (13th in professional hockey) and have earned 38 goals in those chances. The Penguins have seen 2,032 shots taken against them and have earned a save percentage of .906. Pittsburgh has taken 2,023 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.6%. While playing at even strength, the Penguins have conceded 152 goals while notching 150 themselves. Pittsburgh is sitting with 206 power play opportunities and they have added 44 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 21.36%. For the season, the have a total of 69 points and their points % is .575. With respect to their scoring capabilities, the Pittsburgh Penguins have racked up 194 goals (13th in hockey) for the season and have allowed 190.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Tristan Jarry. The opposition has racked up 471 goals against Jarry in his pro career and his goals against rate is 2.60. Jarry has played in 190 contests over the course of his pro hockey career. His save percentage is at .915 during his 10,872 mins in the crease. He has accumulated a record of 111-54-18 and he has started in 182 games. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Jarry has tallied 112 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .615. Jarry has seen 5,568 shot attempts taken against him and has gathered 5,097 total saves.

In their last game, Tampa Bay faced off against the Panthers in a game where the Lightning went home in defeat by a final of 4-1. The Lightning recorded 1 goal of the 29 shots on goal they tried. They had 5 power play opportunities in this matchup and scored 1 out of those opportunities.

So far this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have a total of 211 goals, 78 points, in addition to a points percentage of .650. They have allowed 178 goals to be scored by way of 143 goals at even strength and 35 goals while they were shorthanded. The Lightning have tallied 158 goals at even strength and 53 goals (3rd in pro hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have earned 207 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 25.60%. Tampa Bay has tried 1,931 shots (16th in hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.93%, while allowing the opposition 1,895 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 81.38% on their oppositions 188 power play tries, and their save percentage currently comes in at 90.6%.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Andrei Vasilevskiy protecting the net. The opposition is averaging 2.51 goals per game and he has allowed 1,007 goals overall. Vasilevskiy's quality start percentage is 57.8% and he has qualified for 231 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He has been a starter 400 games and has accumulated 24,087 mins. Vasilevskiy has accrued a lifetime record of 257-116-26 and has been in net for 410 games. He has compiled 11,448 stops out of 12,455 shots taken, giving him a save % of .919.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+130)

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