I haven't done a total in a while. I was ready to smash Lightning -1 if Andrei Vasilevskiy was in net after sitting Thursday, but he's out again. So why would I then do an Under with kinda iffy backup Jonas Johansson? Because Nikita Kucherov is out too. And that's obviously significant offensively. The Isles have a few key guys out as well (was part of my -1 plan). Goalie Ilya Sorokin, always one of my favorites, has been better away with a 2.39 GAA. Half-unit simply as totals often perplex me but short of 3-3 to OT I feel decent about it.

It's rare I'll share a bet that's more speculative than fact but this is a total worth playing now. I'm going to work under the assumption we don't see Lightning starter Andrei Vasilevskiy today after his back-up wasn't present at morning skate. Tampa is getting healthy elsewhere through the lineup and the team is generating chances at a very high level right now. The Isles should be able to generate as well like we saw in their win against the Avs and I expect some high event hockey on the Gulf tonight