NHL Free
Pick | Lightning at Red Wings
Detroit was
out of the NHL playoff picture not long into the 2021 season. While the Red
Wings have one of the worst records in the league, they have pulled some
surprises this season.
Two of
those surprises have come against Tampa Bay, the Red Wings opponent this
Sunday. The Lightning are the defending Stanley Cup champion, but the Red Wings
have something Tampa Bay does not. That is something NHL
bettors can use to their advantage on Sunday.
A
LOOK AT THE NHL BETTING MENU
Game: Tampa
Bay Lightning (33-14-2, 22-27 ATS) at Detroit Red Wings (17-25-9, 32-19 ATS)
When:
3:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 2, 2021
Where:
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Current
Line: OFF Total:
OFF
TV Coverage:
NBC
Keeping
Things Close
As bad as
Detroit has been in 2021, the Red Wings have been able to keep games close and
pull a few upsets. Take their last three games as an example.
The Red
Wings lost in a shootout to Columbus 1-0 on Tuesday. They lost 2-1 in overtime
to Dallas last Saturday and beat the Stars 7-3 last Saturday.
Detroit
owns the NHL’s second-best record ATS. The Red Wings are 32-19 ATS this season.
That includes covering in four of the six games that Detroit has played against
Tampa Bay this season.
ICYMI: An
Inside Look at the 2021 NCAA Tournament
The
Lightning blew out Detroit in the first two games winning 5-1 and 3-1. Since,
Detroit has covered in each of the past four games, which includes two wins. In
the second two-game set, Tampa Bay won the first game 4-3 and lost to Detroit
6-4 in the second.
Recent
History
In the most
recent pair of games played on April 3 and 4, the Lightning took the opener 2-1
and then lost 5-1 in the second game.
Since
beating Tampa Bay in that game on April 4, the Red Wings have played 11 games.
They have only four games, but four of the seven losses have come by just one
goal. Detroit even had a three-game winning streak. That included two straight
wins over Central Division leader Carolina.
MUST
READ> BETTING
THE 2021 TRIPLE CROWN RACING SERIES AT ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS
The
Lightning, on the other hand, have won three straight and since losing to
Detroit on April 4 have won seven of eleven games. Tampa Bay has clinched a
playoff berth but can overtake second-place Florida and gain home-ice advantage
in the opening round of the postseason.
The
Lightning still have a chance at capturing the top spot in the division. They
actually have won more wins (33) than first- and second-place Florida (32) and
Carolina (32). Tampa Bay is just one point behind Florida and three behind the
Hurricanes.
Want
another free pick? Here’s a Bulls
at Hawks betting preview.
The Pick
Is In
Just before
the puck drops on Sunday, the Lightning will have just five more games in the
2021 regular season. They have a playoff spot wrapped up. Playing the worst
team in the division - Columbus might have something to say about that - will
there be enough motivation for Tampa Bay?
Sunday is a
great opportunity to capitalize on the home underdog. Detroit keeps games close
and they have proven they can do so against the Lightning. You could take the
Red Wings to cover as they do often, but take them to win straight up as a
plus-money underdog.
NHL Free
Pick: DETROIT on ML
