This is a 9* on TB

After starting the season with three straight losses, Tampa Bay has turned things around. You had to figure they would. After all, this is the team that’s won the last two Stanley Cup Finals. In each of their last seven games, the Lightning have picked up a point. That’s five wins and two overtime losses. Five of their next six games are at home, including this one against the team they beat in last year’s semifinals. It was a seven-game series with the Islanders last summer, but we expect the Lightning to roll tonight. This will be the Islanders’ 12th straight road game to open the year as they wait for their new arena to be ready. The Isles have played a game since Thursday, but you’ve got to figure they are road-weary. Having three days off didn’t help them in Newark on Thursday as they lost to the Devils 4-0. Before that was a 5-2 loss in Minnesota. It’s six straight losses to teams with winning records for the Islanders. Play on TAMPA BAY

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