BOSTON BRUINS @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Ice Hockey : North America : NHL
Tuesday, January 17th, 2011, 7:30PM US
(12:30AM GMT)

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PREVIEW

The Tampa Bay game seems to have been struck down by lightning and they are now on a 7 match losing streak. They may be home but that is unlikely to help, as they face the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins.

Boston have improved since a slow start to the season and they are now 29-12-1. They will come here confident, not just because Tampa are losing every game they play, but because Boston have beaten Tampa 4 of the last 5 times the teams have met. The last meeting was in Boston and that ended 4-1 to the Bruins. And that was when Tampa weren't sucking as bad!

On paper, looking at stats, this is a total mismatch. Boston are scoring 3.55 goals per game, best in the NHL, and are giving up just 1.95 goals a match, again, best in the NHL. Tampa are scoring 2.70 a game but their 3.48 conceded on average is worst in the NHL.

Boston will likely come here and pounce on Tampa Bay very early. Do not be surprised if they are leading by 2 goals or more after just the first period as Boston have the offence to do just that.

Indeed, Tampa Bay have been battered precisely because of those early defensive woes. The Lightning have been outscored 10-1 in the first periods of their last 4 games and their season total of 54 conceded in the first period is the most given up by any team in the NHL.

BETTING VERDICT

I was going to go with Boston to win by more than 1 here but as they're on the road and we can get a decent price for the regulation win I will stick at that.

But if you're a greedy little piggy, hey, fill yer boots...

The Pick :

Boston Bruins to win

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take the Boston Bruins -0.5 (regulation) @ 1.91 (Pinnacle)