Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, 2/26/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Date: Sunday, February 26, 2023

Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Lightning (-125) Penguins (+105)

The Pittsburgh Penguins (27-21-9) will try to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning (36-17-4) at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday. The line on this contest has the Lightning at -125 and the Penguins are at +105. The total is 7.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to clean up some issues after taking a 6-5 loss against the Sabres in their previous outing. Tampa Bay accumulated 4 minutes in the box in this outing. They also had 3 power play opportunities and scored 1 goal. The Lightning had a good offensive outing in the defeat. For the matchup, they finished 5 out of the 41 shots they put on goal.

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Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have totaled 180 power play opportunities (15th in professional hockey) and have come away with 34 goals in those chances. The Lightning so far have had 1,773 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .906. Tampa Bay has taken 1,855 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 11.0%. While at even strength, the Lightning have allowed the opponent to score 133 goals while having 153 when they are on offense. Tampa Bay has tallied 197 power play opportunities and they have notched 51 goals out of those tries, garnering them a percentage of 25.89%. For the season, they have tallied 76 points and their points percentage is sitting at .667. In regard to their goal scoring prowess, the Tampa Bay Lightning have notched 204 goals (5th in the NHL) so far this season and have allowed 167.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Andrei Vasilevskiy. Opponents have been able to score 1,004 goals versus Vasilevskiy in his pro career and his goals against average per contest is 2.51. Vasilevskiy has taken the ice for 408 games during his pro hockey career. His save percentage is .919 in his 23,970 minutes in the crease. He has earned an overall record of 256-115-26 and he has gotten the start in 398 games. For his professional hockey career, Vasilevskiy has earned 229 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .575. Vasilevskiy has seen 12,370 shot attempts taken against him and he has 11,366 total saves.

In their last game, Pittsburgh faced off against the Oilers in an outing where the Penguins ended up taking the loss by a tally of 7-2. The Penguins converted 2 goals out of the 24 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 4 power play chances in this contest and netted 1 out of those attempts.

The Penguins have accumulated 138 goals at even strength and 43 goals (11th in pro hockey) while having more men on the ice. Pittsburgh has taken 1,905 shots (7th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 9.50%, while allowing the opposition 1,951 shots. On the year, the Pittsburgh Penguins have tallied 181 goals, 63 points, and a points percentage of .553. They have granted a total of 184 goals to be scored by of a combination of 147 goals at even strength and 37 goals while they were shorthanded. They have recorded 199 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 21.61%. They have a penalty kill percentage of 79.78% on their oppositions 183 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 90.6%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Casey DeSmith in the crease. He has accrued 3,292 stops out of the 3,607 shots attempted, giving him a save % of .913. DeSmith is sitting with a lifetime mark of 53-40-15 and has played in 124 games. He got the starting nod in 108 games and has been on the ice for 6,732 minutes. DeSmith's quality start percentage comes out to 52.8% and he has 57 quality starts in his hockey career. Opponents are averaging 2.81 goals per game and he has allowed 315 goals overall.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-125)

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