Lightning Vs Nashville Predators
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An NHL Game Day Preview between the Tampa Bay Lightning Vs Nashville Predators – StatementGames alternative Fantasy Hockey, play for FREE and WIN CASH Rewards.

Image result for Andrei Vasilevskiy
Andrei Vasilevskiy – (Tampa Bay Lightning)

When: 8:30 PM EST, February 9, 2021.
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
TV: NBCSN

Puckline: Lightning -1.5 / +155 | Predators +1.5 / -185
Moneyline: Lightning -165 | Predators +135
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 6.5

Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 8-1-1-0
Road Record: 2-1-1-0
PL: 6-4

Nashville Predators

Record: 5-7-0-0
Home Record: 4-2-0-0
PL: 6-6

Tampa Bay Lightning Vs Nashville Predators Game Day Preview

Image result for pekka rinne
Pekka Rinne – (Nashville Predators)

The Tampa Bay Lightning stomped on the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Monday night for a fifth straight win. These two teams will do it again tonight in Nashville.

Tampa Bay Lightning

After starting a great goaltender stretch to open the season, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper knew he had an important concern at hand. Andrei Vasilevskiy needed a night off, and he got one Monday. The defending Stanley Cup Champions still went on to victory despite his absence. Vasilevskiy figures to back between the pipes tonight.

Vasilevskiy, the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner, has been rock solid again for his team.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cooper had to lean on the 26-year-old Russian a little more than he expected. Backup Curtis McElhinney went on the COVID-19 protocol list Jan. 16 — just two games into the season — and came off two weeks later.

With his backup sidelined, Vasilevskiy hunkered down and started night after night for Tampa Bay, going 7-1-1 and posting sterling numbers — a 1.88 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. He has allowed two tallies or fewer in seven of his nine starts.

However, with Vasilevskiy having started 35 straight games dating back to last season, Cooper realized even the rigors of a truncated 56-game season would wear on his starting goalie eventually.

McElhinney, 37, started Monday for the first time since March 8, 2020, and he allowed only Dante Fabbro’s power-play goal while making 23 saves in the victory.

That probably won’t be enough to get him another start Tuesday, though.

“We’ve got a plan for all these situations, and it doesn’t matter to me whether you play the front end or the back end,” Cooper before the Monday match. “You’re playing an NHL game, and you’ve got to be ready to play and so does our team.”

Cooper was pleased that McElhinney faced just six shots in the first period Monday.

Nashville Predators
NHL Fantasy Hockey

Like his Tampa Bay counterpart, Nashville coach John Hynes has had goaltending on his mind, too. His concern was over veteran Pekka Rinne, who played well last week as he helped his club split two games with the Panthers in Florida.

The 2018 Vezina winner, Rinne relieved Juuse Saros after Florida scored five Thursday, and Rinne promptly stopped all 12 shots he faced as his team rallied for a 6-5 overtime win.

Rinne, 38, returned Friday night and allowed just two goals on 36 shots, but his teammates received only a lone goal from Colton Sissons in a 2-1 loss.

“When you get good goaltending, it always brings energy to your team,” Hynes said after the Florida defeat. “But it’s not Peks’ job to get guys more consistent and get going.”

The Finnish goalie stopped 31 of 33 shots Monday but lost to Tampa Bay for only the second time in his career in regulation (9-2-2). The Lightning also beat him on Jan. 30 in Tampa.

On Monday, the Predators placed top center Ryan Johansen (upper body) on injured reserve, and Eeli Tolvanen, Mathieu Olivier and Michael McCarron all played after being recalled from the taxi squad.

Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm (birth of child) missed his first game this season and was replaced by Jarred Tinordi.

Lightning Vs Predators Facts

  1. Lightning are 50-14 in their last 64 vs. a team with a losing record.
  2. Predators are 5-2 in their last 7 home games.
  3. Road team is 7-3 in the last 10 TBL Vs NSH meetings.

Tampa Bay Lightning Vs Nashville Predators Alternative Fantasy Hockey-Statement Games Picks

Lightning 2 Predators 3

  1. 10 PT Pick: NSH Starter OVER .920 Save %Age (Pekka Rinne Projected)
  2. 9 PT Pick: Nashville Predators Defenseman OVER 9.5 Blocked Shots
  3. 8 PT Pick: Total Goals UNDER 6.5

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