Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Tuesday 2/12/19
NHL – TRENDS OF THE DAY
It’s a busy night in the National Hockey League on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, but the eyes of the hockey world will be on the state of Florida where the two best teams in the league will square off when the Calgary Flames take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. In other great action, the New York Islanders battle the Buffalo Sabres and the Arizona Coyotes take on the Vegas Golden Knights.
Featured Game
Calgary Flames(+120) vs.Tampa Bay Lightning(-140
There is anything more exciting than when the two best teams in any league square off, and that’s what will get on Tuesday night. The Calgary Flames are first in the Pacific Division and have the second-best record in the NHL with 74 points (34-15-6). Calgary is 17-10-1 on the road this season. The Tampa Bay Lightning have the top record in the league and are first in the Atlantic Division with 86 points (41-11-4). Tampa Bay is 21-5-2 at home this season. Both teams are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.
Goaltending Matchup:
David Rittich will be in goal for Calgary. Rittich is 20-4-5 this season with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Surprisingly, the Calgary goaltender has lost his last two starts, but he has not allowed more than three goals in any of his last five outings. Rittich is 7-1-2 in his last 10 starts.
Tampa Bay will have Andrei Vasilevskiy in goal in this contest. Vasilevskiy is 22-7-4 this season with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. He won his last start, allowing four goals on 32 shots, but is only 5-3-2 in his last 10 starts.
Hot Trends:
The Calgary Flames are…
9-4 in their last 13 games.
11-5 in their last 16 games on the road.
6-2 in their last eight games when playing on two days rest.
TheTampa Bay Lightning are…
40-14 in their last 54 games.
58-23 in their last 81 games at home.
38-13 in their last 51 games when playing on one day’s rest.
Stat Pack:
Flames:
Goals For:3.67
Goals Against: 2.87
Power-Play:22.3%
Penalty Killing:79.8%
Lightning:
Goals For:3.80
Goals Against:2.77
Power-Play:29.1%
Penalty Killing:85.0%
Prediction
What a great matchup this should be. Tampa Bay is first in scoring while Calgary a second. The Lightning are sixth in goals-against while the Flames are 10th. The big difference here is going to be in special teams. Tampa Bay is second in penalty killing while Calgary is 18th and the Lightning have the top power-play unit in the NHL while Calgary is ninth. Add to it the fact that Tampa Bay is playing at home and there is really no reason to go against the Lightning.
The total is set at 6.5 and we see that is a good bet. Neither goaltender is playing particularly well, so a dominating outing from either is not expected. Calgary has gone over in each of their last five on the road and has gone over in 14 of their last 16 overall. Take the Tampa Bay Lightning to win, 5-3.
Two Games to Watch
New York Islanders (-115) vs.Buffalo Sabres(-105)
This battle of New York features the New York Islanders, first in the Metropolitan Division with 72 points (33-16-5) taking on the Buffalo Sabres, fifth in the Atlantic Division with 61 points (27-21-7). New York is 16-9-2 on the road this season while Buffalo is 16-8-4 at home. The Islanders are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, including winning their last three, while the Sabres are 4-5-1 in their last 10.
Why New York Wins:
Islanders are 7-2 in their last nine on the road.
Islanders are 22-7 in their last 29 against teams with a losing record.
Islanders are 19-7 in their last 26 games.
Sabers have lost their last four games at home against teams with a winning record on the road.
Carter Hutton has lost eight of his last 10 starts.
Islanders are 5-1 in the last six meetings.
Why Buffalo Wins:
Robin Lehner has lost two of his last four starts for the Islanders.
Carter Hutton allowed two goals on 28 shots in his last start.
Home team has won five of the last seven meetings.
What About the Total?
Go over 5.5, because…
Sabres have gone over in 10 of their last 13 games.
Sabres have gone over in six of their last eight at home.
Arizona Coyotes (+185) vs.Vegas Golden Knights (-230)
This great battle in the Pacific Division features the Arizona Coyotes, fifth in the division with 53 points (24-26-5) taking on the Vegas Golden Knights, third in the division with 66 points (31-16-7). Arizona is 14-13-2 on the road this season while Vegas is 16-7-3 at home. The Coyotes are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games while the Golden Knights are 4-6-0.
Why Arizona Wins:
Golden Knights are 2-5 in their last seven games.
Road team has won four of the last five meetings.
Darcy Kuemper allowed two goals on 35 shots in his last start.
Marc-Andre Fleury allowed four goals on 33 shots in his last start.
Why Vegas Wins:
Golden Knights are 8-2 in their last 10 against teams with a losing record.
Coyotes are 1-5 in their last six games.
Coyotes are 41-88 in their last 129 on the road.
Golden Knights are 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
What About the Total?
Go under 5.5, because…
Vegas has gone under in three of their last four on a Tuesday.
Vegas has gone under in three of their last five at home against teams with a losing record on the road.
Vegas has gone under in five of their last nine at home.
Arizona has gone under in five of their last nine.
Arizona is 28th in the league in goals per game at 2.60.