Tampa Bay’s late-season surge could propel it out of the East’s Wild Card race and into third in the Atlantic Division.
The Lightning's opponent Saturday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins, are riding a little burner of their own, and are in a battle for the final Wild Card spot in the conference.
It makes for compelling viewing, with bookmakers pegging the host Penguins as -105 moneyline favorites in the NHL odds.
Let’s break down this East battle with my free Lightning vs Penguins NHL picks, complete with your best NHL player props bet for April 6.
Lightning vs Penguins odds
Lightning vs Penguins predictions
Man, what’s a guy gotta do to get some love for NHL MVP?
That what Lightning star Nikita Kucherov and his supporters might be thinking as he currently sits in third, despite leading the league in scoring.
The Tampa winger is already in his personal-best rarified air, with career highs set in goals (43), assists (90) and points (133) with six games to go in the regular season.
Kucherov isn’t just getting to the finish, either: He’s finishing in a flurry. He had a goal and two assists last game in a 7-4 pasting of Montreal, making it back-to-back 3-point efforts after three assists in a 4-1 clubbing of the Maple Leafs.
His play has helped the Lightning move to within two points of the Leafs for third in the Atlantic heading into play Saturday.
Kucherov has been as spectacular as he has been consistent, with points in five straight, and 18 of his last 19 games. Of those, he has multi-point games in nine of them.
Amazingly, there’s only one instance so far this season where he’s failed to score in back-to-back games.
He’s been doing it against everyone, and the Penguins are no exception. In their December 6 meeting in Tampa, Kucherov had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win. In the first meeting of the season, a Pittsburgh 4-2 victory, he had two assists.
Of the last five meetings against the Penguins, Kucherov has recorded multi-point games in four of them, and has hit the scoresheet in eight of the last 10 head-to-heads.
Plus odds for a multi-point effort for the league’s top point-getter? Jump on that now.
My best bet: Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 points (+115 at SIA)
Lightning vs Penguins same-game parlay
Nikita Kucherov anytime goal
Sidney Crosby anytime goal
Lightning -0.5 1st period
As Kucherov’s points total isn’t available for this SGP selection, let’s do a quick pivot and use his anytime goals prop as the basis of this three-legger.
Another star that’s turned it on of late is Penguins vet Sidney Crosby.
He was left off the scoresheet in Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals, but that seems like the outlier on this current playoff push.
Prior to the Caps game, Crosby had picked up points in 10 of his previous 11 games, piling up seven goals and 13 assists. That included a pair of 2-goal performances to start the month of April, in wins over the Rangers (5-2) and Devils (6-3) on back-to-back nights.
Like Kucherov, Crosby has scored in both matchups with the Lightning with a goal and an assist. He also has four goals in his last six games against Tampa.
In another must-win crucial contest that could determine their playoff fate — the Penguins, Capitals, Red Wings and Flyers are competing for the second and final Wild Card spot in the East — expect Sid to shine.
One interesting trend to turn this into a +900 ticket: Tampa’s first-period advantage of Pittsburgh in this head-to-head.
They’ve won the first period in four straight matchups, and have trailed just once after 20 minutes in their last seven.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Lightning vs Penguins moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- Pittsburgh has won five of the last six meetings vs. the Lightning.
- Tampa Bay has just one regulation loss in its last 12 games.
- The Lightning have gone Under the total in five of their last six.
- The Penguins have hit the Over in three of their last four.
Lightning vs Penguins betting trend to know
Pittsburgh is 5-0-1 in its last six games. Find more NHL betting trends for Lightning vs. Penguins.
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Lightning vs Penguins game info
| Location: | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Date: | Saturday, April 6, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ABC, ESPN+ |
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