We have an 11-game slate in the NHL on the last day of 2022 and this inter-conference duel will take place on Saturday, December 31, so make sure you get the best Coyotes vs. Lightning betting pick and odds.

Arizona is looking for the fourth consecutive win while Tampa Bay is hoping to get the third victory in a row when they meet at Amalie Arena. The Lightning are massive -400 moneyline favorites on BookMaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6 goals. These inter-conference rivals have met twice last year, and the Lightning won both games.

Coyotes were successful at home

The Arizona Coyotes (13-16-3-2, 21-13 ATS) are playing their best hockey of the season. They won all three games of their home stand, defeating the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only did they beat the Avs and Leafs, but the Coyotes scored six goals in each game, their season-high. Arizona will now be on a four-game road trip which will start on Saturday against Tampa Bay.

The Coyotes were 2-1 down against Toronto after the opening period but scored four unanswered goals in the final period to book a 6-3 victory. Interestingly, Arizona scored six goals from just 23 shots. Jack McBain bagged a pair of goals for the hosts, but Barrett Hayton led all the players with three points. So far this year, Clayton Keller leads Arizona in points with 33 points (G 13, A 20).

Karel Vejmelka (11-9-4) is a probable goalie for the Coyotes against the Lightning on Saturday. The 26-year-old is allowing 3.08 goals per game with a .910 SV% and two shutouts.

LW Andrew Ladd (knee) is out indefinitely. LW Matias Maccelli (lower body) is questionable to play on Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Lightning edged the Islanders in the shootout

The Tampa Bay Lightning (22-11-0-1, 15-19 ATS) were on a five-game winning streak but that positive run ended with a pair of defeats to the Maple Leafs and Red Wings. However, the Lightning bounced back with a couple of victories over the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders. The most recent win against the Isles came in a shootout after which Tampa Bay climbed up to the 5th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Lightning came from behind to beat the Islanders 2-1 as Brayden Point equalized in the third period to force overtime. The game then went to the shootout where Point and Alexander Killorn scored to give a win to their team. Andrei Vasilevski was impressive at the goal with 45 saves. This season, Nikita Kucherov is Tampa’s most valuable player and the 4th best in the NHL with 51 points (G 13, A 38). Steven Stamkos has 39 (G 16, A 23) and Point contributed 35 points (G 20, A 15).

Andrei Vasilevski is likely going to take his place between the sticks against Arizona on Saturday. The 28-year-old is conceding 2.40 goals per contest this season along with a .922 SV% and no shutouts.

LW Rudolfs Balcers (upper body) is out indefinitely. D Erik Cernak exited the last game with an undefined issue, and it is unknown if he will take on the Coyotes on Saturday.

Trends:

Arizona:

  • 2-5 in the last seven after scoring five goals or more in their previous game
  • 1-7 in the last eight when their opponent scores two goals or less in their previous game

Tampa Bay:

  • 7-2 in the last nine overall
  • 4-0 in the last four vs. Central Division rivals
  • 5-1 in the last six games following a win

Arizona Coyotes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Pick  

Arizona is perhaps coming to Tampa with three straight wins in the pockets, but the Coyotes have been dreadful on the road lately as they suffered eight consecutive defeats. On the other hand, the Lightning won six in a row at home and the last season’s vice champions have a better team in general. Tampa is scoring 3.53 goals per game opposite Arizona’s offense which averages 2.88 gpg, while the Lightning’s defense allows 2.88 gpg opposite the Coyotes’ D which is allowing 3.56 gpg. Tampa Bay will conclude its three-game homestay with this game, and I am backing the hosts to get an easy win.

Pick: Take the Lightning at -1.5 Puck Line (-120)

The Total

I am positively surprised with the way the Coyotes are playing on offense recently and with the fact that they scored 12 goals in the last two games against Colorado and Toronto. I usually expect low-scoring affairs when Arizona is playing, but on this occasion, I am going with more than six goals. The Coyotes conceded at least three goals in each of their previous eight road games, and I am backing the Lightning to score 4+ here. Over is 8-3 in the Coyotes’ last 11 overall; Over is 6-1 in Arizona’s previous seven vs. Eastern Conference rivals, while Over is 22-9-3 in the Lightning’s last 34 vs. Central Division opponents.

Pick: Go Over 6 goals (-110)