The Tampa Lightning are trying to fix a mess by a coaching change. After trading fine young defenseman Matt Carle, the firing of the coach early in the season is another weird move... by the new ownership. Rick Tocchet, who has a black cloud on top of his head since a gambling scandal, is now in charge... go figure !!! A promotion for Tocchet !!! Anyway, a coaching change is usually a good thing short term but this team has the same group of old players and Tocchet is a first year head coach.
Carolina is in a slump, losing 4 of their last 5 games. The Canes lost 4 of those games to two of the hottest teams in the league right now (Washington and Atlanta). Carolina will get thing together very soon as the lineup is getting healthier from games to games. Matt Cullen, Joni Pitkanen and Brandon Sutter have now two game under the belt since their return. Expect better outing from them today. Winger Patrick Eaves is schedule to return today.
Obviously, Tampa Bay players shoud be fired up after getting the head of their coach. However, I think they run into a team hungry for a win also. Lightning should play without big center-winger Ryan Malone again today. So you have the big line of Lecavalier-St Louis-Prospal, but then Stamkos-Recchi-Roberts, Jokinen-Vrbata-Pettinger as the second and third line. I think Carolina top 3 lines can matchup well here. Canes big centers Staal, Brind'Amour and Cullen should be able to work against smaller Lightning players. Tampa bay will probably press the action today and if Carolina is patient, play good checking and counter attack they should be fine.
I like Carolina chances, you basically get a 10 to 15 cents value here in my opinion.
Carolina (-140)
Carolina is in a slump, losing 4 of their last 5 games. The Canes lost 4 of those games to two of the hottest teams in the league right now (Washington and Atlanta). Carolina will get thing together very soon as the lineup is getting healthier from games to games. Matt Cullen, Joni Pitkanen and Brandon Sutter have now two game under the belt since their return. Expect better outing from them today. Winger Patrick Eaves is schedule to return today.
Obviously, Tampa Bay players shoud be fired up after getting the head of their coach. However, I think they run into a team hungry for a win also. Lightning should play without big center-winger Ryan Malone again today. So you have the big line of Lecavalier-St Louis-Prospal, but then Stamkos-Recchi-Roberts, Jokinen-Vrbata-Pettinger as the second and third line. I think Carolina top 3 lines can matchup well here. Canes big centers Staal, Brind'Amour and Cullen should be able to work against smaller Lightning players. Tampa bay will probably press the action today and if Carolina is patient, play good checking and counter attack they should be fine.
I like Carolina chances, you basically get a 10 to 15 cents value here in my opinion.
Carolina (-140)