Tampa Bay has been struggling lately and can’t seem to get back on track. The team has been dropping points even against opponents they should be beating. Recent losses to Detroit (0:2) and Chicago (1:4) highlight their struggles. Their offense has been lacking, and they’ve had difficulty generating scoring chances. A prime example was their disappointing loss to Chicago, where they didn’t put up much of a fight.
That being said, there have been bright spots. When facing a tougher opponent like Los Angeles, thanks to a stellar performance from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and the efforts of winger Brandon Hagel, Tampa managed to secure a solid 3-0 win. However, their inconsistency remains a concern, making them predictable for more experienced teams. Moreover, despite boasting a solid power play (26.7% conversion rate), the Lightning often find themselves in penalty trouble, which undermines their performance.
Key Players:
Injury Concerns: The team is dealing with just one injury (Moser), so they are not heavily impacted in terms of personnel.
Ottawa, on the other hand, has been in fantastic form, remaining unbeaten in their last five games, with most of those victories coming in regulation time, which shows their consistency. A notable example was their 2-1 win over Toronto, with goalie Filip Forsberg standing tall with an impressive 96% save percentage. But it doesn’t stop there. The team also posted a dominant 6-0 victory over Minnesota and a 5-2 win against Nashville.
Even with significant injuries to key players (six players currently out), Ottawa has continued to play strong, maintaining its position in the playoff zone. The Senators have been solid both defensively and offensively, and there’s no doubt they’re in great shape.
Key Players:
Injury Concerns: While Ottawa has been performing well despite a long list of injuries, they continue to find ways to win.
Considering the current forms of both teams, Ottawa seems to have the upper hand in this matchup. Despite their injury woes, the Senators have been playing consistently well and have strong defense. On the other hand, Tampa Bay is still struggling to find their rhythm and has been inconsistent, especially offensively.
Ottawa is likely to come out on top, probably in regulation time. The final score might be around 4-3 or 3-2. However, Tampa Bay could surprise if Vasilevskiy stands tall and Hagel steps up. But given the current issues, Ottawa seems to have the clear advantage.
Surprisingly, bookmakers are favoring Tampa Bay as the clear favorite in the upcoming matchup, despite the team's ongoing struggles. On the other hand, Ottawa is in superb form, consistently defeating any opponent they face, whether at home or on the road. Meanwhile, the Lightning often fail to deliver their best performance, even on home ice. We recommend taking advantage of the unusually high odds and placing a bet on an away victory.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 1.95 for Tampa, 4.66 for a draw, and 3.27 for Ottawa. Total over 5.5 goals is offered for 1.75, total under for 2.16.
Our prediction: Ottawa to win at odds of 2.46.
