I passed on using Coastal Carolina as a personal service play on Monday. But the Chanticleers came roaring back from a big deficit to get the job done as the daily free play. Tuesday’s comp is on the ice.
11 OILERS at 12 LIGHTNING
Take: 11 OILERS +130
One of the indicators that a team is pretty good is when they’re able to find ways to win even when they don’t play especially well.
I’m not about to crown the Edmonton Oilers as the team to beat in the West, but there’s no doubt in my mind this team is heading in the right direction. The Oilers were far from outstanding in each of their last two games. But they managed to get two points at home against the Flyers, and then got two more on Saturday as they opened a road trip with a win at Chicago.
The Oilers of the past would almost certainly have lost each of these games. But this Edmonton entry found a way to come out on top each time, and that to me is a sign of a team that’s really starting to figure things out. I also like the fact that while the team was happy to get the wins, they seemed eager to point out that their play has to improve if the wins are going to keep on coming.
That attitude has me looking Edmonton’s way as they continue their journey tonight with a stop at Tampa Bay. The Lightning are returning home off an okay four-game road trip where they went managed to garner six important points.
The Lightning have a favorable schedule the rest of the way with 15 of 24 games at home. They’re really going to have to make the most of that advantage if they’re to rally to make the playoffs. I just don’t see that as a likelihood as the Lightning have simply not been able to find that desired level of consistency all season.
As for tonight, it’s advantage Edmonton from a situational standpoint, and I’d rather have the team finding ways to win games as opposed to one that has done more of the opposite. I’ll side with the Oilers tonight.
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2* CBB Best Bet ready for Tuesday!