More options are listed in the expert's forecast below. A statistical assessment is not an investment recommendation. 18+
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Six defeats in a row have already seriously complicated the situation of Vancouver, which cannot complete an unsuccessful exit in any way. Moreover, in the last meeting, the Canadians missed a two-goal advantage and were left without a win again. Now they have to play against Tampa Bay, which has not lost at all on home ice so far. John Cooper's men have just beaten Seattle and are steadily gaining points. How serious will the advantage of the hosts be? We study the state of the opponents in our betting tip and select a bet
Command Analysis
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa feels as confident as possible on home ice. John Cooper's team won all four meetings in front of their fans, successively coping with Washington (3:1), Philadelphia (4:1), Minnesota (3:2) and Seattle (4:3 OT). Moreover, in the last match I had to show character, as the opponent twice restored equality in the third period. However, the hosts still achieved their fifth victory in the last six games.
The main hero of the match was Victor Hedman, who scored in overtime. The defender went to the other side's goal on his own and scored two points with an accurate shot. Brandon Hagel also had a great match, scoring a double, and Ilya Mikheev scored his hundredth goal in the NHL. Andrey Vasilevsky made 24 saves. In general, the Lightning's offense is in full order right now, and the only setback in the last stretch is a 1-4 defeat to the Rangers.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver continues to lose even in those meetings where almost everything is in its favor. In Sunrise, the Canadians managed to lead 2-0 already in the first period, with the opponent noticeably outnumbering them in the number of shots. Liam Egren scored first, and then Elias Pettersson increased the advantage. It seemed that the team would finally be able to break the prolonged series of defeats.
But in the third period, Florida completely seized the initiative. Brady Tkachuk reduced the gap, and 13 seconds before the siren scored a double and sent the meeting into overtime. There, the striker scored again and brought the hosts a 3-2 victory. Even Levi Merilainen's 36 saves did not help Vancouver achieve the result. This defeat was the sixth in a row. Moreover, in the last five matches, the Canadians scored only nine goals. The offense clearly lacks sharpness, and the defense too often fails to withstand pressure at crucial moments.
The missed advantage in the match with Florida was probably another serious blow for Vancouver. The Canadians haven't been able to win six matches already, and now they're heading to an opponent who's doing great on home ice. Tampa has won four games in a row in front of its fans, and regularly scores several goals. Hagel looks especially good, and Hedman's return to scoring makes the offense even more dangerous. With their current defensive problems, it will be extremely difficult for the guests to contain such pressure.
At the same time, Vancouver itself throws quite a bit, so it is not necessary to count on constant retaliatory attacks. Lightning is able to force the opponent to spend more time in their own zone from the first minute and gradually create an advantage. Given the current form of the teams, the hosts may well achieve a confident victory with a difference of at least two goals.
Our prediction is that Tampa Bay will win with a handicap of (-1.5) goals in 1.78
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