Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Recently the Tampa Bay Lightning have been suffering painful defeats on their own ice, which is not bringing the squad closer to the play-off places. Will they be able to cope with the Eastern Conference leaders, the New Jersey Devils?
Tampa Bay Lightning
The last two games at the Benchmark International Arena ended with a combined score of 5:13. After four consecutive wins this is undoubtedly a disappointing outcome. The opposition were genuinely strong on the road: the New York Rangers (3:7), who had won seven of nine away games by that point, and the Vancouver Canucks (2:6), who have more victories away (six) than at home (three). The hosts themselves show a similar trend: 5-2-2 on the road against a shaky 4-5-0 at home.
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have a slightly lower overall record (6-3-1) than the Tampa Bay Lightning (7-3-0), but in their last five matches the result has often been decided in overtime or in the shootout. Not a single game ended in regulation, and in most cases (4-1) they came out on top. As for their away matches, as befits the leaders, the team have a positive record (6-4-0). In November Sheldon Keefe’s team played four road games and won three of them, although two victories were hard-fought – against the Chicago Blackhawks (4:3 OT) and the Washington Capitals (3:2 SO).
Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils Prediction
Since the New Jersey Devils’ games often finish level after regulation, we expect that outcome here (if not an away win). Moreover, their first meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning this season ended with a victory for the visitors (5:3), also in Florida.
