The Tampa Bay Lightning (52-27-3-5) have been pushed to the brink of elimination by the Detroit Red Wings (46-26-5-10). The boys from Motown can close things out if they can get another inspired effort from their net minder on Monday night.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Both Games 3 and 4 in Detroit were lined relatively close to a pick 'em, and Game 6 is no exception. The Lightning are very slender -110 favorites at BookMaker as of Sunday afternoon, while the total is set at a flat 5, where it has been since Game 4 of this series.
GOALIE REPORT
One man and one man only has multiple shutouts here in the playoffs, and that man is Petr Mrazek. The rookie that most figured never would have gotten off of the bench has turned up aces for Mike Babcock, who very well could have taken the safe route and let Jimmy Howard play this series. Instead, Mrazek has a 1.92 GAA, and is seven minutes away from having three straight shutouts to his credit.
Ben Bishop hasn't looked great for the Lightning. He’s only faced an average of 22.2 shots per game in this series, yet has allowed 11 goals. His 2.22 GAA is impressive, but when you consider the lack of shots faced and his .909 save percentage during the postseason, you have to be worried if you're a Tampa Bay backer.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"No team's been able to win two games in a row in this series, and so now we've got to get our mind right, get it ready for the next game. That, to me, is the biggest thing in this series. You've got to keep getting better, and you've got to find a way to do it when you get your opportunities." – Detroit head coach Mike Babcock on what has to be done to finish off the Lightning in this series
SITUATIONAL BETTING
We keep talking about how bad the Tampa Bay power play has been in this series, and for good reason. The Lightning went 0-for-3 on Saturday night, and are now 0-for-13 in the last three games and 2-for-24 overall with the man advantage.
PROP TALK
The other constant we are talking about is Steven Stamkos, who has been nowhere to be found in this series. Tampa Bay's captain has just two assists and no goals to his credit, a stunning development for a man who scored 43 goals in the regular season. In his playoff career, Stamkos only has eight goals in 27 games, an average of 0.30 goals per game. He’s averaged 0.56 goals per game in the regular season in his career.
ANALYSIS & PREDICTION
The Lightning are about to strike out of the playoffs, and Cooper is going to have a lot of questions to answer as a result. Tampa Bay just hasn't matched the physical ability of Detroit in this series, and it is showing, especially on special teams. All of those loose pucks are falling the way of the Wings, and as long as that continues, the Bolts are in a lot of trouble. This game has no business being a pick 'em.
Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 1
The NHL odds for this Monday contest will be released first by BookMaker. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings will start at 7:00 p.m. ET on Monday, April 27, 2015 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI. Game 6 of this series will be televised live on CNBC.
