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San Jose Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Preview
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
When: Tuesday, February 16, 7:30 PM ET
Line: San Jose Sharks (+110) at Tampa Bay Lightning (-130); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Betting on the San Jose Sharks (29-20-5)
Who can stop these Sharks? They’ve scored a total of nine goals in their last two games with a slew of weapons. It’s not even their stars who scored aplenty with the likes of Tommy Wingels, Dylan Demelo, Joonas Donskoi, Tomas Hertl, Matt Tennyson, Logan Couture and Chris Tierney all fining the back of the net.
Joe Pavelski has not scored a point in his last seven games, while defenseman Brent Burns has not scored in a season-worst 14 games. Burns had a goal and an assist in the last game against Tampa Bay, a 4-3 home loss on December 5.
Patrick Marleau (fourth on the team with 35 points) was shut out against Arizona, but scored two goals and an assist in the two games prior to Saturday’s. He should be another of the Sharks circling the Tampa Bay net looking for an opening.
Goalie Martin Jones could be hit or miss in this game. He’s allowed just one goal or none at all in three of his last four starts, including a 2-0 shutout of Chicago last Tuesday. But he could also be shellacked like when he was beaten down by Nashville for five goals on February 6.
Jones has not started against Tampa Bay in his career, but he should have a good outing considering how well he’s played on the road. He’s 16-5-2 with a 2.25 GAA in 23 road games this season. He’s 10-10-1 with a 2.45 GAA in 22 home games.
The Sharks have won six of their last eight games on the road.
Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning (30-21-4)
Steven Stamkos will not be traded before the trade deadline, making his involvement in Tampa Bay’s playoff push even more prominent. The Lightning need to get into overdrive considering they’re tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. With Pittsburgh losing Monday night against Florida, Tampa Bay now has a chance to swipe the spot with a victory against San Jose on Tuesday.
The Lightning will be hard-pressed to recover having dropped three of their last four. They can’t ask for a better matchup than San Jose. Stamkos has eight goals and five assists in nine career matchups with the Sharks. Meanwhile, stellar forward Nikita Kucherov scored a pair of goals in a 4-3 home win over San Jose on December 5.
A solid defenseman is there to aid in Stamkos’ and Kucherov’s attacks. Victor Hedman has a team-high 30 assists this season. He had an assist in the first game against San Jose this season. He’s currently on a three-game point streak with a goal and four assists. If everything falls into place, then Tampa Bay has all the pieces they need to seize a lead in the Wild Card standings.
Tampa Bay will need to get its offense going if they can’t stop the Sharks from scoring. Goalie Ben Bishop hasn’t been at his best recently. He’s allowed three or more goals in three of his last four games, alternating wins and losses. Bishop allowed a goal in 48:11 of time on ice against San Jose in the first meeting this season. He went 1-1 with a 2.02 GAA in two starts against the Sharks last season.
The Lightning have won nine of their last 10 at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Tampa Bay goes off for a big win over the Sharks.
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