PREMIUM
Rogers' ICE BREAKER >> SIZZLING 13-3 L16 in NHL!
(NHL) Dallas vs. Tampa Bay,
Money Line: -172.00 Tampa Bay (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -172.00 Tampa Bay (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 9-8-1 Dallas Stars conclude a three-game Southeast road trip with a visit to Tampa on Thursday to take on the NHL-best Lightning, who have won four in a row to reach 14-2-2 on the season. Dallas has already lost at Carolina and Florida, although the Stars earned a point in Miami for a shootout loss. As for the Lightning, they own at least a point in six straight (5-0-1), after outscoring three California teams 12-4 on a perfect road trip.
Dallas: The Stars finished second-to-last in the league in goals-against per game last season (3.17) but currently rank 15th, allowing 2.83 per game. That said, the team has been very inconsistent since opening 5-3-0. Ben Bishop, who won a club-record 131 games in five seasons with the Lightning, is 7-5-0, 2.67 GAA & .908 SP on the season, after has dropping three of his last four starts. Captain Jamie Benn has taken over the team lead with 19 points after posting three goals and two assists during a four-game point streak that included two tallies in the shootout loss at Florida on Tuesday. Defenseman John Klingberg is next with 18 points while Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov, who boasts a nine-game point streak, have 17 apiece.
Tampa Bay: The Lightning surely don't miss Bishop, as his replacement has been Andrei Vasilevskiy. He sure seem to like his role as the No. 1 goalie, as he's 13-1-1 with a 1.39 GAA and .930 SP. It sure doesn't hurt that Tampa's top-six defensemen have been intact all season in front of Vasilevskiy. Victor Hedman leads the blueliners with 13 points and the steady Anton Stralman boasts a team-best plus-13 rating. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the league with 31 points and linemate Nikita Kucherov boasts an NHL-high 16 goals. Vladislav Namestnikov has produced 19 points playing alongside Stamkos and Kucherov. after finishing with 28 in 74 games in 2016-17.
The pick: Bishop was a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist with Tampa Bay but don't expect this 'homecoming' to go well. The Stars are 3-6-1 on the road, allowing 3,70 GPG. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay in the NHL's highest scoring team at 3.89 GPG and the Lightning are 7-1-1 a on home ice, outscoring opponents 3.56to-2.67 GPG. Make Tampa Bay an 8* play.
Dallas: The Stars finished second-to-last in the league in goals-against per game last season (3.17) but currently rank 15th, allowing 2.83 per game. That said, the team has been very inconsistent since opening 5-3-0. Ben Bishop, who won a club-record 131 games in five seasons with the Lightning, is 7-5-0, 2.67 GAA & .908 SP on the season, after has dropping three of his last four starts. Captain Jamie Benn has taken over the team lead with 19 points after posting three goals and two assists during a four-game point streak that included two tallies in the shootout loss at Florida on Tuesday. Defenseman John Klingberg is next with 18 points while Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov, who boasts a nine-game point streak, have 17 apiece.
Tampa Bay: The Lightning surely don't miss Bishop, as his replacement has been Andrei Vasilevskiy. He sure seem to like his role as the No. 1 goalie, as he's 13-1-1 with a 1.39 GAA and .930 SP. It sure doesn't hurt that Tampa's top-six defensemen have been intact all season in front of Vasilevskiy. Victor Hedman leads the blueliners with 13 points and the steady Anton Stralman boasts a team-best plus-13 rating. Captain Steven Stamkos leads the league with 31 points and linemate Nikita Kucherov boasts an NHL-high 16 goals. Vladislav Namestnikov has produced 19 points playing alongside Stamkos and Kucherov. after finishing with 28 in 74 games in 2016-17.
The pick: Bishop was a two-time Vezina Trophy finalist with Tampa Bay but don't expect this 'homecoming' to go well. The Stars are 3-6-1 on the road, allowing 3,70 GPG. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay in the NHL's highest scoring team at 3.89 GPG and the Lightning are 7-1-1 a on home ice, outscoring opponents 3.56to-2.67 GPG. Make Tampa Bay an 8* play.
