by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Feb 18, 2023
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Where to watch: BSSUN, ATTSN-RM
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Lightning -125, Golden Knights +105
FanDuel: Lightning -134, Golden Knights +110
BetMGM: Lightning -125, Golden Knights +105
Caesars: Lightning -125, Golden Knights +105
Season record
Lightning: 35-16-3
Golden Knights: 33-18-4
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Lightning - Golden Knights preview, prediction and analysis
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, February 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost against the Arizona Coyotes last Wednesday, February 15 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona with a score of 1-0 ending in a shootout. The Tampa Bay Lightning currently rank 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
Brian Elliott made 26 saves for the Lightning (35-16-3), whose three-game winning streak ended. Tampa Bay was 6-1-1 in its previous eight games and was shut out for the first time this season.
"The goalies put on a clinic," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It came down to a skills competition at the end, and they won it. That was it. Am In upset with my team? Not in the slightest."
Tampa Bay won 4-3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, when Steven Stamkos had the decisive goal in the shootout. Stamkos scored again in the shootout against Arizona, but Ingram turned aside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning's final two shooters.
"I thought we did a pretty good job … we had plenty of chances to score goals but their goalie played well," Tampa Bay defenseman Ian Cole said. "We got a point, so I guess that's good."
Tampa Bay took 12 shots during the game's first two power plays in the first period but couldn't score and finished 0-for-5 with the man-advantage, including 11 seconds in overtime. The Lightning led 37-12 in shots after two periods.
Most of Elliott's difficult saves came in the third period, when Arizona had its only two power plays. Elliott's shutout was his 45th in the NHL.
"It's disappointing, especially when these points mean a lot at this time of the year," Elliott said. "Nobody's happy about that, but we'll take the good things that we did."
The Lightning didn't arrive in Phoenix until approximately 3:30 a.m. Wednesday after the win against the Avalanche and a plane de-icing delay in Denver.
"We didn't give them a ton, but I think we got tired and the third period you could tell," Cooper said. "By the third, we were tired."
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won six of their last 10 games.
The Vegas Golden Knights won against the San Jose Sharks last Thursday, February 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with a score of 2-1. The Vegas Golden Knights currently rank 1st in the Pacific Division.
William Carrier scored with 18 seconds left in the third period for the Golden Knights. Chandler Stephenson played a shot off the end boards from the left face-off circle to a wide-open Carrier in front. Seven of Carrier's 15 goals this season have been game-winners.
"I'm having a good year, obviously. I score when it's clutch," Carrier said. "I'll take that, obviously. I like playing with 'Stevie.' I'm getting those [goals]. We're screening and getting those shots. We're rolling right now."
Paul Cotter scored for the third straight game, and Adin Hill made 25 saves for Vegas (33-18-4), which has won four in a row.
"It's not easy to win in this league. We talked about being comfortable in low-scoring games," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We gave up not very much, so that shows me we were defending well. Offensively, we created some looks we didn't finish on. … We stuck with it. You come back in the third period to win a hockey game. That's not easy to do in the League either.
"I'm happy we came out on the right side of it because I look at the big picture, we were the better team."
Vegas leads the NHL with nine third-period comeback wins this season.
"We have a confidence in ourselves going into the third," Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel said. "If we're down a goal or if the game's tied, we feel comfortable to find ways to win. You saw that tonight. You've seen in the past a few times. I would love it if we were going into the third with a lead more often and not chasing games, but it's good to see we're finding ways to win and come from behind."
Alexander Barabanov gave San Jose a 1-0 lead at 17:04 of the second period. Cotter tied it 1-1 at 6:22 of the third period. He kept the puck on a 2-on-1 with Jonathan Marchessault, shooting it past Kahkonen from the right circle. He had an opportunity on a 2-on-1 breakaway at 3:33 of the third, but Kahkonen managed to get to his near post to stop the shot.
"He has a breakaway earlier by getting available. He made a nice move. The guy made a save. [Next] time, he decided to rip it, it just worked out for us," Cassidy said. "It was a big goal. He's more of the guy who will shoot it. It shows in his numbers. You need some of those guys. I'm glad he shot it tonight. He does have a good shot. He has the ability to beat the goaltender."
The Golden Knights went 0-for-7 on the power play, tying their team record. They went 0-for-7 in their first game on Oct. 6, 2017, against the Dallas Stars.
"There were some times we were able to generate some momentum," Eichel said. "When you go 0-for7, it's not very good. So, that's something we probably have to address and we need to figure it out."
Vegas outshot San Jose 14-4 in the first period.
"It was a good win by us. I thought we found a way to get it done. That's what matters," Eichel said. "Their goalie made some big saves. They played hard and didn't give us a ton. We generated a ton by ourselves. Give them credit, it was a tight game. … Good to find a way to win."
The Vegas Golden Knights have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
This is a measuring stick game for Vegas. Not sure if they're ready for that kind of game yet. Lightning 3, Golden Knights 2
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost against the Arizona Coyotes last Wednesday, February 15 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona with a score of 1-0 ending in a shootout. The Tampa Bay Lightning currently rank 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
Brian Elliott made 26 saves for the Lightning (35-16-3), whose three-game winning streak ended. Tampa Bay was 6-1-1 in its previous eight games and was shut out for the first time this season.
"The goalies put on a clinic," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It came down to a skills competition at the end, and they won it. That was it. Am In upset with my team? Not in the slightest."
Tampa Bay won 4-3 against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, when Steven Stamkos had the decisive goal in the shootout. Stamkos scored again in the shootout against Arizona, but Ingram turned aside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning's final two shooters.
"I thought we did a pretty good job … we had plenty of chances to score goals but their goalie played well," Tampa Bay defenseman Ian Cole said. "We got a point, so I guess that's good."
Tampa Bay took 12 shots during the game's first two power plays in the first period but couldn't score and finished 0-for-5 with the man-advantage, including 11 seconds in overtime. The Lightning led 37-12 in shots after two periods.
Most of Elliott's difficult saves came in the third period, when Arizona had its only two power plays. Elliott's shutout was his 45th in the NHL.
"It's disappointing, especially when these points mean a lot at this time of the year," Elliott said. "Nobody's happy about that, but we'll take the good things that we did."
The Lightning didn't arrive in Phoenix until approximately 3:30 a.m. Wednesday after the win against the Avalanche and a plane de-icing delay in Denver.
"We didn't give them a ton, but I think we got tired and the third period you could tell," Cooper said. "By the third, we were tired."
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won six of their last 10 games.
The Vegas Golden Knights won against the San Jose Sharks last Thursday, February 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with a score of 2-1. The Vegas Golden Knights currently rank 1st in the Pacific Division.
William Carrier scored with 18 seconds left in the third period for the Golden Knights. Chandler Stephenson played a shot off the end boards from the left face-off circle to a wide-open Carrier in front. Seven of Carrier's 15 goals this season have been game-winners.
"I'm having a good year, obviously. I score when it's clutch," Carrier said. "I'll take that, obviously. I like playing with 'Stevie.' I'm getting those [goals]. We're screening and getting those shots. We're rolling right now."
Paul Cotter scored for the third straight game, and Adin Hill made 25 saves for Vegas (33-18-4), which has won four in a row.
"It's not easy to win in this league. We talked about being comfortable in low-scoring games," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We gave up not very much, so that shows me we were defending well. Offensively, we created some looks we didn't finish on. … We stuck with it. You come back in the third period to win a hockey game. That's not easy to do in the League either.
"I'm happy we came out on the right side of it because I look at the big picture, we were the better team."
Vegas leads the NHL with nine third-period comeback wins this season.
"We have a confidence in ourselves going into the third," Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel said. "If we're down a goal or if the game's tied, we feel comfortable to find ways to win. You saw that tonight. You've seen in the past a few times. I would love it if we were going into the third with a lead more often and not chasing games, but it's good to see we're finding ways to win and come from behind."
Alexander Barabanov gave San Jose a 1-0 lead at 17:04 of the second period. Cotter tied it 1-1 at 6:22 of the third period. He kept the puck on a 2-on-1 with Jonathan Marchessault, shooting it past Kahkonen from the right circle. He had an opportunity on a 2-on-1 breakaway at 3:33 of the third, but Kahkonen managed to get to his near post to stop the shot.
"He has a breakaway earlier by getting available. He made a nice move. The guy made a save. [Next] time, he decided to rip it, it just worked out for us," Cassidy said. "It was a big goal. He's more of the guy who will shoot it. It shows in his numbers. You need some of those guys. I'm glad he shot it tonight. He does have a good shot. He has the ability to beat the goaltender."
The Golden Knights went 0-for-7 on the power play, tying their team record. They went 0-for-7 in their first game on Oct. 6, 2017, against the Dallas Stars.
"There were some times we were able to generate some momentum," Eichel said. "When you go 0-for7, it's not very good. So, that's something we probably have to address and we need to figure it out."
Vegas outshot San Jose 14-4 in the first period.
"It was a good win by us. I thought we found a way to get it done. That's what matters," Eichel said. "Their goalie made some big saves. They played hard and didn't give us a ton. We generated a ton by ourselves. Give them credit, it was a tight game. … Good to find a way to win."
The Vegas Golden Knights have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
This is a measuring stick game for Vegas. Not sure if they're ready for that kind of game yet. Lightning 3, Golden Knights 2
Betting trends
Lightning are 19-8 in non-conference games this season.
Lightning are 9-0 after being shut out on the road last game the last 3 seasons.
Golden Knights are 14-9 in non-conference games this season.
Golden Knights are 38-15 off a one-goal win at home all-time.
Projected lines
Lightning:
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Anthony Cirelli -- Steven Stamkos -- Alex Killorn
Ross Colton -- Nicholas Paul -- Pat Maroon
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry
Victor Hedman -- Zach Bogosian
Mikhail Sergachev -- Erik Cernak
Ian Cole -- Cal Foote
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Anthony Cirelli -- Steven Stamkos -- Alex Killorn
Ross Colton -- Nicholas Paul -- Pat Maroon
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry
Victor Hedman -- Zach Bogosian
Mikhail Sergachev -- Erik Cernak
Ian Cole -- Cal Foote
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Golden Knights:
Paul Cotter -- Jack Eichel -- Jonathan Marchessault
Reilly Smith -- William Karlsson -- Michael Amadio
William Carrier -- Chandler Stephenson -- Phil Kessel
Brett Howden -- Nicolas Roy -- Keegan Kolesar
Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Adin Hill
Paul Cotter -- Jack Eichel -- Jonathan Marchessault
Reilly Smith -- William Karlsson -- Michael Amadio
William Carrier -- Chandler Stephenson -- Phil Kessel
Brett Howden -- Nicolas Roy -- Keegan Kolesar
Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Adin Hill
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
