Free Play on the Lightning/Canucks Game!
This is truly a meeting of unfamiliar foes, as the Tampa Bay Lightning fly to the geographically complete opposite end of the league to face the Vancouver Canucks. These two have only met four times in the last five years. Although the last two meetings resulted in high scoring run and gun games, a lot has changed since then.
First of all, it is no secret that Tampa Bay has been surprisingly successful without their top scorer Steven Stamkos. They have not skipped a beat in maintaining their elite position in the standings, and in doing so, adopted a very defensive game. Although the Lightning have had a bit of offensive flair in the last few weeks, none of their last ten games with the exception of Montreal, have been against elite defense teams.
With the Vancouver Canucks coming off a loss to Philadelphia, which they carelessly let slip away from them in the final seconds of the game, expect them to fill every gap tonight and play at the level of awareness that was responsible for their recent success. Luckily also, Tampa does not have as many scoring weapons as the Flyers, and they are also a strictly defense first team just like Vancouver.
The two defense systems are evidently inscribed in the team philosophies. Both teams are giving up less than two goals a game in their last ten, and have faced some spontaneous offenses in their stretches. Tonight will be a game of structure and caution. It is also safe to say that both teams play very tight with the lead, so it really does not matter who scores first here.
In conclusion, I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know what these players did on New Year's Eve last night, or how it will affect their individual performances tonight. However, both teams are built on basic fundamentals that involve styles that they understand very thoroughly...therefore it will be an easy adjustment even if players are a little disoriented. If anything, it will also help the under.
Expect a very low scoring affair..
PLAY: UNDER 5 +110
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
First of all, it is no secret that Tampa Bay has been surprisingly successful without their top scorer Steven Stamkos. They have not skipped a beat in maintaining their elite position in the standings, and in doing so, adopted a very defensive game. Although the Lightning have had a bit of offensive flair in the last few weeks, none of their last ten games with the exception of Montreal, have been against elite defense teams.
With the Vancouver Canucks coming off a loss to Philadelphia, which they carelessly let slip away from them in the final seconds of the game, expect them to fill every gap tonight and play at the level of awareness that was responsible for their recent success. Luckily also, Tampa does not have as many scoring weapons as the Flyers, and they are also a strictly defense first team just like Vancouver.
The two defense systems are evidently inscribed in the team philosophies. Both teams are giving up less than two goals a game in their last ten, and have faced some spontaneous offenses in their stretches. Tonight will be a game of structure and caution. It is also safe to say that both teams play very tight with the lead, so it really does not matter who scores first here.
In conclusion, I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know what these players did on New Year's Eve last night, or how it will affect their individual performances tonight. However, both teams are built on basic fundamentals that involve styles that they understand very thoroughly...therefore it will be an easy adjustment even if players are a little disoriented. If anything, it will also help the under.
Expect a very low scoring affair..
PLAY: UNDER 5 +110
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
