The Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday May 30, 2021 at PNC Arena. Carolina is the favorite at -110. This according to PointsBet Sportsbook, which puts Tampa Bay at -106 as the underdog.
Tampa Bay will be without both Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson. Carolina will be without Cedric Paquette.
Tampa Bay Blanks Florida to Advance
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 29 shots he faced in shutting out the Florida Panthers to help the Tampa Bay Lightning advance with a 4-0 victory. Four different players scored goals for Tampa Bay and both Nikita Kucherov and Erik Cernak had a pair of assists in the game.
Tampa Bay is averaging 4.00 goals per game during the playoffs, second overall and they are second in shooting percentage at 12.8%. The power-play is also second at an impressive 40.0%. Kucherov has been on fire, recording three goals and eight assists through the first six games. Alex Killorn has eight points as does Stephen Stamkos and Victor Hedman.
The Lightning is allowing 2.83 goals per game and they are killing off 72.7% of shorthanded situations. Vasilevskiy is 4-2 in the playoffs with a 2.64 GAA and a .929 save percentage.
Carolina Downs Nashville in OT to Advance
Sebastian Aho scored the game-winner 1:06 into overtime to send the Carolina Hurricanes onto the next round of the playoffs. The 4-3 victory was the fourth straight overtime game in the series, and the second in a row won by the Hurricanes. Alex Nedeljikovic stopped 24 of 27 shots.
Carolina is averaging 3.67 goals per game, third overall, and they are eighth in shooting percentage at 8.7%. The power-play is connecting on 21.1% of their opportunities. Aho is the leading scorer in the playoffs with five goals and seven points. Both Jordan Staal and Martin Necas have five points each.
The Hurricanes are allowing 2.67 goals per game and are second in penalty killing at 88.5%. Nedeljokic has been impressive, going 4-2 with a 2.22 GAA and a .922 save percentage.
Trends:
Tampa Bay:
- 6-1 in their last seven games on a Sunday.
- 11-4 and their last 15 games when playing on three days rest or more.
Carolina:
- None
NHL Picks
These teams have been quite competitive against each other this season, with the teams splitting the eight contests, each going 4-3-1. What that tells you is that you can be sure that this is going to be a very evenly matched series, but I look for Tampa Bay to come out and win the opener. This will give them home-ice advantage, but do not get too excited. This series is going seven for sure.
Pick: Take Tampa Bay at -106.
The Total:
Oddsmakers seem to think this contest is going over 5.5 goals, but no way. You have two goaltenders who are both playing spectacularly, and the defenses have been great. I look for a low-scoring affair with Tampa Bay winning late, maybe even in overtime.
Pick: Go under 5.5 at +100.