Tampa Bay has scored at least four goals in each of its last three games and lost two of them. Now the Lightning host a Detroit team that’s scored at least four in four straight games. Tampa Bay is a clear favorite Tuesday, but Detroit’s scoring run gives it a way to make this game close.
How Detroit can test the favorite
DraftKings had Tampa Bay at −265 in its 9:05 a.m. ET snapshot. We grade the Lightning higher at both ends in the matchup with Andrei Vasilevskiy and John Gibson. Tampa Bay’s attack showed its depth Saturday, when four different Lightning skaters scored and Nikita Kucherov had three assists in a 5–4 shootout loss to Nashville. AP recap of Tampa Bay’s game in Nashville.
Detroit showed how quickly it can get goals from different situations. Justin Faulk broke a third-period tie with a power-play goal Monday against Florida. Forty-five seconds later, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored from deep in the slot, giving Detroit enough room to absorb a late Florida goal. AP recap of Detroit’s win in Florida.
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Where the goals could come from at 6.5
DraftKings posted 6.5, and our team projections have each side at about 29 shots and three power-play chances. The goalie logs offer some context if the listed pair starts. Vasilevskiy allowed at least four in each of his last three starts. Gibson allowed five on 15 shots against St. Louis on Saturday after stopping 18 of 19 against Chicago. Both starters were unconfirmed for Tuesday.
Detroit’s fifth goal against Florida went into an empty net, and Tampa Bay’s game was 4–4 before the shootout. The goals before those finishes give a better read on how each team can contribute at 6.5. Detroit got to the slot and converted on the power play. Tampa Bay spread its scoring across four players. If Detroit gets those kinds of looks again, the total depends less on Tampa Bay carrying the scoring.
Watch Detroit’s first few chances with the extra skater. A productive power play could help the Red Wings keep up. If Tampa Bay keeps those minutes quiet, Detroit will have to find more at even strength on the second night of a back-to-back.
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