2010 NHL Hockey Night In Canada – Free Predictions: Lightning vs Canucks
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Tampa Bay Lightning (15-10-4) vs. at Vancouver Canucks (15-8-3)
Date/Time: December 11, 2010, 10:30 PM ET, Saturday
Venue: General Motors Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
Broadcast: CBC (HD), SUN (HD)
Lightning vs. Canucks Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Spread: Lightning +1 ½ (-190): Canucks -1 ½ (+160)
Moneyline: Tampa Bay +160: Vancouver -190
Total: 6
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The Tampa Bay Lightning were an early season surprise but a recent rough patch has them falling back to earth a little bit. The Lightning were losers in a shootout on Friday night even though their star Steven Stamkos broke out of a six game goal-less drought by scoring Tampa’s third goal. Tampa Bay heads to Vancouver on Saturday night to take on a Canucks team that has gone 5-1 in their last six games.
The Lightning are victims of poor defense and poor goaltending. They are a respectable 9th in the NHL with 3.1 goals per game but they are a miserable 30th in goals against – 3.5 goals per game. Both of the goaltenders, Dan Ellis and Mike Smith have goals against averages above 3.2 and neither has a save percentage over .872. Against Vancouver’s 4th best scoring offense (3.2 goals per game), the Lightning may be in for a long night.
Vancouver, as stated is 5-1 in their last six games but struggled a bit before their current streak. It has been at home that they have made most of their noise this season – Rogers Arena has been kind to the Canucks – they are 9-3-1 at home.
It will be a slightly different looking team that takes to the ice on Saturday night – 4th leading scorer Mayson Raymond is out with injury as is 23 minute per night defenseman Christian Erhoff, and the Canucks will start backup Corey Schneider (3-0-1 with a 2.08 goals against average) in favor of Roberto Luongo.
The offense will be fine – Michael Sameulsson is slated to return from the injury list and recent call-up Jeff Tambellini has recorded five goals and four assists in the 12 games that he has played. The defense will be fine too. They are 7th ranked in the NHL and give up only 2.5 goals per game.
Betting Prediction:
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the middle of the dreaded Western road swing and get little rest after their Friday night loss. Vancouver has been at home for a week and should be rested and ready to go on Canadian National Television on Saturday night. The Canucks are money at home and against a tired team that has had problems keeping the puck out of the back of their own goal, look for the Canucks to roll and demonstrate why they are considered among the elite in the NHL.
Betting Pick: Vancouver Canucks -190
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