NHL Betting Picks: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins: December 8th 2008

Free NHL Betting Picks: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins December 8th, 2008 7:00PM
I feel this price is too high and that we’re getting solid value with the visitors. These teams just faced each other at Tampa on Thursday. The Bruins won the game 3-1. However, a closer look shows that the Lightning held an edge in shots on goal and that the game was tied 1-1 in the third. The Bruins’ winning goal was a short-handed one in the third period and they added an empty-net goal with one second remaining. In other words, the Lightning played them tough. Despite taking the loss in that game, Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith is now 1-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA in two career games vs. the Bruins.

The Bruins, who followed up the win at Tampa by defeating Florida, have now won four in a row. Note that the last time that they had won four in a row, they were upset by Buffalo. Looking back further and we find them at 10-13 the last 23 times that they were coming off three or more consecutive victories and a money-burning 54-72 (-17.6) in that situation over the past 10+ seasons. The Bruins were -170 favorites the last time (3/13/08) that they were a host in this series but the Lightning scored a 4-1 upset. Desperate to snap their skid, I won’t be surprised if the revenge-minded Lightning shock their hosts once again. Consider Tampa (1*)

NHL Picks Courtesy of Ben Burns. If you are betting on NHL Hockey this season be sure to check out Ben Burns expert NHL predictions available at Touthouse.com