This is a 10* EASTERN-CONFERENCE TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the OVER between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes.

For a number of different reasons I look for this total to eclipse the posted number as the game comes down the stretch. These teams have already played twice this year and the total has gone UNDER the number in each, both 2-1 victories for Tampa Bay. Note that the Lightning also played to three straight UNDERS before the break, while Carolina has seen the total dip below the posted number in four straight. That's a lot of UNDER trends colliding, which I believe firmly points the value in the direction of the higher number. Tampa will surely be hungry to return to the ice, it comes out of the break with the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bolts would string together three wins prior to the break, including a 4-1 victory over Vancouver last Tuesday. Obviously the home side won't be just rolling over here, not only does it play with double revenge, but it also enters this game with considerable momentum after sweeping a two-game trip vs. Ottawa and Toronto to improve to 6-2-1 since the start of the new year. And from an O/U trend based stand point, they don't get much stronger than this as note that the Lightning have seen the total go OVER the number in three of four when playing with three or more days rest this season and in eight of their last ten after playing to three consecutive UNDERS. And note that Carolina has seen the total sail above the posted number in four of its last five when playing with three or more days of rest. In my opinion, the situation, the numbers and the trends do all indeed point to the OVER as the savvy move in this one.

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