Daily NHL Odds and Betting Trends – 09/21/20

by OddsShark (@OddsShark) – Sponsored Post

Here’s a look at the NHL odds and betting trends for the games on today’s schedule.

All NHL betting lines below are as listed at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Stars vs Lightning | OddsShark Matchup Report

Opening NHL Odds: Lightning -162 Favorites

The Lightning will try to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time this postseason and even the 2020 Stanley Cup Final with a victory against the Stars in Game 2 on Monday.  Tampa Bay has not lost two straight games since March 10, which was the team’s last before the NHL regular season paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lightning fell 4-1 in the series opener as -155 favorites on Saturday, losing for just the third time in 13 games when closing as chalk. Dallas goaltender Anton Khudobin was the star of Game 1 with 35 saves, including 22 in the third period alone, to stake his claim as the Conn Smythe Trophy favorite right now. Khudobin has allowed two goals or less in five of the last six games for the Stars, who have been underdogs in each of their previous 13 games, earning nine wins during that stretch and knocking out two of the favorites to hoist the Cup along the way.

Tampa Bay could be the third victim if its top scorers cannot find the back of the net in Game 2. While Steven Stamkos has remained out for more than six months following core muscle surgery, the Lightning’s captain could be returning to the ice soon, according to head coach Jon Cooper. The presence of Stamkos would give them an emotional boost when they need it the most and also provide some additional depth for a team battling injuries. Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point is clearly not playing at 100 percent and has only two points (one goal and one assist) in his last four games combined after totaling 11 (three and eight) in the previous four.

Game 1 looked like it was definitely going UNDER for just the fourth time in 19 meetings between the teams, but an empty-net goal from Jason Dickinson in the last two minutes enabled totals bettors to pick up a push.

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