Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Prediction, Pick and Preview, February 26, 2023

Odds

2021-2022 season stats

Preview

On February 26, 2023, the Pittsburgh will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in what promises to be an exciting matchup. The game is set to take place at PPG Paints Arena at 6 p.m. EST. These teams already faced each other earlier this season and the Pittsburgh outscored the Bolts 6-2. Crosby had a goal and two assists, Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist, and the Pittsburgh scored four times in the third period.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning are a team that has consistently been one of the best in the league over the past few years. They have been playing well lately and will look to continue their strong form against the Penguins. The Lightning have a record of 37-17-4, which puts them in third place in the Atlantic Division. They have a +37 scoring differential and have scored 204 goals while conceding 167.

The Lightning have been an offensive juggernaut this season, with Nikita Kucherov leading the way. He has 22 goals and 58 assists and is one of the best players in the league. Brayden Point has also been playing well lately, with six goals and seven assists over the last ten games.

Defensively, the Lightning have been solid this season, giving up an average of 2.8 goals per game over their last ten games. They have also been penalized 3.7 times per game, spending an average of 11.6 penalty minutes per game. The Lightning will need to continue to play solid defense if they want to have a chance at beating the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh have had a challenging season so far, with a record of 28-21-9. They have struggled defensively, giving up an average of 3.15 goals per game. However, they have a talented group of forwards, including Evgeni Malkin, who has scored 17 goals this season. The Pittsburgh will need to tighten up their defense if they want to make a push for the playoffs.

In their last game against the New Jersey Devils, the Pittsburgh struggled offensively, scoring only two goals on 31 shots. They will need to be more productive on offense if they want to win against the Islanders. Defensively, the Pittsburgh will need to play better, as they have given up five goals in their last game.

The Pittsburgh' goaltender, Dustin Tokarski, saved 38 of the 42 shots that he faced in his last game. However, Tristan Jarry (Upper Body), Mark Friedman (Upper Body), and Ryan Poehling (Upper Body) are questionable for this game, which could impact the team's performance.

In their last 10 games, the Pittsburgh have recorded a record of 4 wins and 6 losses, which is below their usual high standards.

Offensively, the Pittsburgh have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, averaging just 2.8 goals per game. This is significantly lower than their usual production, and it is clear that they are missing some key players or are experiencing a rough patch. The Pittsburgh have also struggled in the assist department, averaging only five per game, which indicates a lack of creativity and teamwork on the offensive end.

Penalties have also been an issue for the Pittsburgh, averaging four per game and racking up 10.9 penalty minutes. This is concerning because it puts them at a disadvantage and can potentially cost them games in critical situations.

Defensively, the Pittsburgh have been giving up an average of 3.7 goals per game, which is a significant concern. It is difficult to win games when you are constantly playing catch-up and relying on your offense to outscore your opponents.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games.

Tampa Bay are 13-7 SU in their last 20 games.

The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 9 games on the road.

The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay's last 20 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh.

Tampa Bay are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.

Pittsburgh are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 14 of Pittsburgh's last 20 games against Tampa Bay.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games at home.

The total has gone OVER in 15 of Pittsburgh's last 20 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay.

Prediction

The Lightning have been consistently one of the best teams in the league over the past few years, and their strong offensive performance this season, led by Nikita Kucherov, will be a challenge for the Pittsburgh. While the Pittsburgh won the previous game against the Lightning, it is important to note that the Lightning have a superior record this season and have been playing better overall. Additionally, the Pittsburgh have struggled defensively and have given up an average of 3.7 goals per game in their last 10 games. This makes it likely that the Lightning, who have been averaging 3.3 goals per game, will be able to score at least 2 more goals than the Pittsburgh. The betting trends also favor the Lightning, with a higher percentage of wins and overs in their last few games. Overall, while anything can happen in a hockey game, the Lightning have a good chance of winning this matchup by at least 2 goals.

PICK: Lightning -1.5 (+225)

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