Lightning vs Capitals November 29 Prediction: Tampa Bay Aiming for 4th Win in Last 5 Games
- The Tampa Bay Lightning (12-8-2) take on the Washington Capitals (17-4-5) Friday afternoon
- The Lightning rank 1st in the NHL scoring 3.73 goals per game
- Washington has won only 7 of 13 games on home ice this season
After a sluggish start to the season we’re starting to see a Lightning team that more closely resembles the record-setting squad of a year ago. Friday afternoon Tampa Bay is in Washington to take on the Capitals who are currently tied for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Lightning vs Capitals Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1.5 (-240) | EVEN | O 6.5 (-115) |
| Washington Capitals | -1.5 (+200) | -120 | U 6.5 (+115) |
Odds taken Nov. 28
There are three key reasons to like the Lightning in this one and lucky for you they aren’t glaringly obvious, so the price tag is giving you a chance to make some real coin.
Lightning Have Looked Solid Over the Last 9 Games
Small sample sizes are all we have to work with this early into the season, especially when you consider the Lightning have played a league low 22 games. Over the past nine games Tampa Bay has six wins and three losses. Two of the three defeats came against the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues and the other was to a strong Winnipeg Jets team.
Caps up next. #STLvsTBL pic.twitter.com/PQqRwU6GRJ
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 28, 2019
They have scored 39 goals over the last nine games and the Capitals, even in their Stanley Cup winning season, have never been known for having the tightest defense.
Tampa Bay Once Again the Highest Scoring Team in the NHL
The fact Tampa Bay has played the least games in the league is skewing some key stats. They are sitting 5th in the Atlantic Division but have between two and four games in hand on each of the teams currently ahead of them. Same goes for goal scoring, as they are ranked lower than they deserve but the per game rankings tell the true story – Tampa Bay has the best offense in the league.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 27, 2019
Nikita Kucherov and company have scored a league best 3.73 goals per game and I’d expect that to continue in Washington. The Capitals are tied for 16th in goals against this season, which shows there will be opportunity for the Lightning to score and I’d expect them to take advantage.
Capitals Own Deceiving Record on Home Ice
Glass half full or glass half empty? If you like the Capitals you may point to the fact they’ve lost only two games in regulation on home ice all year. On the flip side, they’ve come away with two points only seven times in 13 games. If you are betting Washington on the money line each of those games you’d only be 7-6 which is definitely a losing proposition when you factor in the odds each game.
Happy #Capsgiving !#Caps 4 – Panthers 3 #CapsCats #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/wqo1y8ns6o
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 28, 2019
Looking at Washington’s last four home games, three have been against non-playoff teams in the Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks. They also played the Florida Panthers and despite the weak competition they are only 2-2 in those games.
Bet the Bolts Confidently
The Lightning vs Capitals odds paint a picture that you should enjoy seeing – it can be a profitable afternoon affair if you take Tampa Bay. They’re high scoring, they’re heating up, Steven Stamkos is set to return and the Capitals aren’t all they are cracked up to be on home ice. Bet the Bolts and bet them with confidence – I’m on the moneyline but a road team puck line bet isn’t out of the question either.
Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning (EVEN)
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
