Tampa Bay Lightning’s Three Keys to Victory Against Vegas Golden Knights in NHL Showdown

NHL Predictions: Tampa Bay Lightning Three Keys to Victory vs. Vegas Golden Knights …

In today’s NHL Predictions, we turn our attention to a compelling matchup between two recent Stanley Cup champions: the Tampa Bay Lightning (15-13-5) and the Vegas Golden Knights (21-7-5). The Lightning are coming off a convincing 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues, where depth played a crucial role, and Nikita Kucherov continued to lead the NHL point-scoring race with two goals. On the other side, the Golden Knights have dispelled any Stanley Cup hangover concerns, with Jack Eichel’s 37 points in 33 games leading the charge. Goaltender Adin Hill has also been stellar with a goals saved above expected (GSAx) of 12.6.

As Tampa Bay embarks on a late December home stand, the keys to victory for the Lightning in this matchup include:

1. Bottom-Six Goal-Scoring:

• In the recent win against the Blues, the bottom six stepped up with two goals from Michael Eyssimont and Tyler Motte, showcasing the Lightning’s depth.
• Acquiring sneaky wingers like Conor Sheary and Eyssimont for the bottom six has proven to be advantageous for Tampa Bay.
• With Nick Paul’s successful performance on the top line in the last game, coach Jon Cooper should consider keeping him alongside the superstars.

2. Shots from the Point:

• Tampa Bay’s offensive strategy involves generating shot attempts from the point by defensemen, with forwards creating screens and seeking deflections in front of the net.
• Analyzing Vegas’s 5v5 defensive Shot Map from HockeyViz reveals vulnerabilities in defending shots from the point, as the Golden Knights prioritize protecting the middle of the ice.
• Exploiting this weakness could be pivotal for the Lightning, potentially influencing the game’s outcome.

3. Stop Eichel and Stone:

• Eichel and Stone form a dynamic top line for the Golden Knights, with Eichel ranking 13th in the NHL point-scoring race and Stone providing stability on both ends of the ice.
• Lightning’s defensive forwards like Anthony Cirelli and Paul will play a crucial role in containing the explosive Eichel and the defensively sound Stone.
• Shutting down the top line is imperative for Tampa Bay’s chances of securing a victory.

Prediction:

• Despite Tampa Bay’s ability to compete with top teams, the prediction favors the Vegas Golden Knights in a closely contested game.
• The Lightning, buoyed by recent successes against strong opponents like the Boston Bruins, face a challenging task against a formidable Vegas squad.

In summary, the upcoming matchup promises an exciting clash between two teams with recent NHL success. Tampa Bay’s keys to victory include capitalizing on bottom-six goal-scoring, exploiting vulnerabilities in Vegas’s defense from the point, and effectively neutralizing the dynamic duo of Eichel and Stone. While the Lightning have shown they can compete with elite teams, the prediction leans towards a hard-fought victory for the Golden Knights in what is expected to be an enthralling game.