Tampa Bay Looks to Even Series with Pittsburgh
Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals best of seven series is scheduled for Friday night between the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins and the host Tampa Bay Lightning. The current line has Pittsburgh favored at -149, with Tampa Bay at +135 and the over/under goal total at 5.
Tampa Bay hopes to turn the series around with a win in Game 4 that would tie it at 2-2. Pittsburgh on the other hand is looking to take a 3-1 lead in the series and put Tampa on the brink of elimination. Pittsburgh defeated Tampa Bay 4-2 Wednesday to win its second straight game of the series.
Tampa Bay is without No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop who has started to skate, but is listed as doubtful for Game 4. However, most feel it would not have mattered who was in net the past two games for the Lightning, the Penguins have just played exceptionally well in their offensive end.
Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel continues to have a strong postseason after scoring a goal and assist Wednesday. He leads the Penguins in the postseason with 16 points, of which 8 have been in the past five games.
All four Pittsburgh lines have played well which has created havoc in the defensive zone of Tampa Bay the past two games. The Penguins are winning battles for the puck, and forcing the Lightning into turnovers that have given the Pens momentum.
Pittsburgh’s Patric Hornqvist appeared to hurt his left hand blocking a shot on Wednesday, but Pittsburgh coaches do not see that being an issue when the opening faceoff drops on Friday night, as they expect him to be in the lineup.
Tampa Bay played the triplets – Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat – back on the same line and the line contributed with five points during the third period.
However, the game was already in hand for Pittsburgh, but gave Tampa Bay something to look forward to for Game 4.
Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin ended a point drought of six games with one assist in Game 3.
Johnson’s goal on Wednesday was his 19th in the playoffs, which put him in fourth place all time for the franchise.
Sidney Crosby the captain for Pittsburgh has a goal in two straight games.
Prediction: Pittsburgh is on a roll. The Penguins will push Tampa Bay to the brink of elimination, lean on the Pens.
