BetPicks

Free Picks: Chicago Blackhawks vs Tampa Bay Lightning

By:
Curtis Rush
time icon
03/05/2021
NHL Free Picks – Best Bets of the Week
Chicago vs Tampa Bay NHL
Chicago Blackhawks vs Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL, United Center

The best sports bet for today is the Chicago Blackhawks over the Tampa Bay Lightning with the moneyline. The Blackhawks are at home and well rested. The Lightning have won five straight and Vasilevskiy has three straight shutouts.. I like the underdog here.

Battle of the goaltenders

This game may come down to a goaltender battle between Adrei Vasilevskiy of Tampa and Kevin Lankinen of Chicago. Vasilevskiy became the first goaltender in franchise history to earn a shutout in three straight games when Tampa beat Dallas 2-0 on Tuesday.

Their numbers are very close. Vasilevskiy has a 1.65  goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. Lankinen has a 2.55 goals-against-average and a .924 save percentage.

But Chicago has Patrick Kane. He  is having one of his best seasons at age 32. The shifty winger has 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 23 games and is putting together an MVP-type season.. In his last five games, he has only been shut out once. The Blackhawks are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and they are playing at home. Putting your money on the Blackhawks seems like good value (+258 with 22Bet).

The Lightning are rolling. Their five–game winning streak gives them momentum.. But their 6-3-1 record on the road makes them a bit more vulnerable playing in Chicago’s home rink. The Blackhawks will be well rested, having not played since they routed the Detroit Red Wings 7-2 on Feb. 28.

When you’re looking at the best NHL bets today, I would consider betting in favor of the Blackhawks. I don’t think the Lightning can keep this sizzling  momentum up, and I don’t think they have an answer to Patrick Kane. Take the Blackhawks (+258) with 22Bet.

Stats

  • Lightning are 4-0 in their last four meetings in Chicago.
  • Tampa Bay is 13-7 ATS.
  • Chicago is 15-8 ATS.
  • Chicago has the No. 1 power play in the league.

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I live in the land of ice and snow in Toronto, Canada's largest city. I can't skate very well, but I know sports, especially hockey, after a long career writing about the Toronto Maple Leafs and other teams at the country's largest newspaper, the Toronto Star. Betting on sports can be a rewarding experience when you understand the trends and underlying characteristics of the teams and players before laying down a bet. That's how I hope to point you in the right direction.

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