The New Jersey Devils and Tampa Bay Lightning meet Thursday in NHL action at the Amalie Arena. The New Jersey Devils need a win after losing six of their last eight games. The Tampa Bay Lightning look for a win after winning seven of their last nine games.

The New Jersey Devils are averaging 2.9 goals per game and are scoring on 17.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Jesper Bratt leads New Jersey with 14 goals, Nico Hischier has 16 assists and Dougie Hamilton has 108 shots on goal. Defensively, the New Jersey Devils are allowing 3.4 goals per game and are killing 82.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jonathan Bernier has allowed 26 goals on 264 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 70 goals on 663 shots.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.4 goals per game and are scoring on 19.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay with 20 goals, Victor Hedman has 35 assists and Corey Perry has 87 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.8 goals per game and are killing 81.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has given up 75 goals on 956 shots faced, and Brain Elliott has allowed 21 goals on 227 shots.

The Devils are 7-21 in their last 28 road games and 28-58 in their last 86 overall. The Lightning are 44-17 in their last 61 home games and 124-59 in their last 183 overall. The under is 3-1-1 in Devils last 5 overall. The over is 6-1 in Lightning last 7 overall. The Devils are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Tampa Bay and 2-6 in the last 8 meetings.

The New Jersey Devils still struggle defensively, they can’t win on the road, and they’re even worse in the underdog role. The Tampa Bay Lightning are starting to string some nice wins together, and they’re still one of the better home teams in the league. I don’t care how big the plus money is, I can’t get behind the Devils here. Give me the Lightning and the PL for max betting value.