Tampa Bay at Carolina NHL Picks & NHL Odds Jan 15 2011

Saturday, 15 January 2011 01:01

Written by Chad Lexington

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Tampa Bay at Carolina NHL Picks & NHL Odds Jan 15 2011 - How can Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson shut-out the Washington Capitals twice in two games and, in between, get pulled in an 8-1 NHL Picks loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins? That’s exactly what happened when the Lightning defeated Washington 3-0, on Wednesday, marking the second time in two tries that the veteran has blanked the high-scoring Caps. NHL Odds Makers have listed Carolina -130 favorites over Tampa Bay.

Roloson has a 3-1 record since being acquired from the Islanders and has helped the Lightning to a division lead with a 26-13-5 record, good for 57 points. Goaltending has been an issue for Tampa all season Mike Smith and Dan Ellis unable to get the job done.

The Lightning’s new goaltender will take his act on the road as his team travels down Tobacco Road to take-on the Carolina Panthers. Carolina (21-15-6) is on the fringe of the playoff hunt with 48 points and needs this divisional game to close the gap on the Southeast leading Lightning. Carolina has been led by C Eric Staal, who leads the team with 21 goals and 42 points. Surprising Jeff Skinner has 14 goals to complement Staal. In net, Cam Ward has had to face over 1100 shots and has fared well with a 2.62 GAA.

Ward will have to stop the League’s #3 scoring team and the second leading goal-scorer in Steven Stamkos. Tampa has a 13-10-3 away record and that could play a factor in his road divisional NHL Picks game.