Stephen Nover's Stanley Cup Total of the Week
(NHL) New Jersey vs. Tampa Bay, 04/12/2018 3:00 PM, Score: 2 - 5
Total: 5.50 | 101.00 Under
Result: Win
Nice job by the Devils to make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season after finishing with the worst record in the NHL last year. The Devils are heavy underdogs here so they are playing on house money. New Jersey is young and has fast skaters. All four of Devils' lines possess speed. The Devils went 3-0 against Tampa Bay this season. So they aren't going to alter their game and become grinders. Taylor Hall is a major scoring threat.

The Devils are going to play fast, which is excellent for the Over. The Over has cashed in eight of New Jersey's last 11 games with six of those Over games lined at 6 and the other Overs lined at 5 1/2.

The Lightning's defense has become broken. Tampa Bay has allowed three or more goals in 17 of its past 22 games. The Lightning rank 28th in penalty killing, while the Devils rank among the top 10 in power play goals.

Tampa Bay is about offense not defense. Not only were the Lightning the No. 1 scoring team in the NHL, but they scored the most 5-on-5 goals since the 2009-10 Capitals. Keith Kinkaid has emerged as the Devils' No. 1 goalie with Cory Schneider battling a groin injury. Kinkaid played well down the stretch, but has zero playoff experience.