Predators vs Lightning Pick: Monday, February 1st

By Jimmy The Bag Feb 1, 2021

Predators vs Lightning Pick: Monday, February 1st: These teams met on Saturday night in a 4-3 Lightning win. Tampa was up 4-1 after two periods and let their foot off the gas. Their top 2 center’s Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene, are two of the NHL’s biggest disappointments. I thought Ryan Johansen could be a top 5 centreman in the NHL; I thought he would play for Team Canada. Was I ever wrong!

At 6’3, 220 pounds, I thought he could be a Ryan Getzlaf. He scored 33 goals as a 20-year-old for the Blue Jackets. He hasn’t scored more than 15 goals in his last six seasons. He has 0 goals through 8 games this year. He doesn’t throw his body around; he doesn’t go into the dirty areas.

I thought Matt Duchene was capable of being a 100 point scorer. This guy does not fight him. The Avalanche didn’t turn the corner until they got him out of the dressing room. His game on Saturday vs. the Lightning is the perfect example of what he brings. He won 3 of 10 faceoffs was a -1 and managed one shot on goal. Eight million dollars a year for both of these guys. They have combined for zero goals, six assists in 16 games. What an incredible opportunity to play between Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson. Michael Granlund and Luke Kunin are not top 6 forwards.

The Lightning are simply a much better team. They dominated the face-off circle 34-21. They let their foot off the gas with a 4-1 lead, Head Coach John Cooper will be all over them. They also allowed two power-play goals, which Cooper will be all over them for. The Lightning were coming off two straight losses before the 4-3 win. This is a team that will be playing hard tonight.

Predators vs Lightning Odds

Nashville comes into Monday night’s game being outscored by an average of a half goal per game in their eight games so far this season. Meanwhile, the Lightning have 3 regulation wins in their 6 games played, and have a +5 goal differential along the way.