The Tampa Bay Lightning (7-1-1) begin another two-game set against the Nashville Predators (5-6-0) Monday with an 8 p.m. ET puck drop. This mini-series is being played in Music City after the Lightning swept a two-game set in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. Below, we analyze the Lightning-Predators NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Lightning at Predators: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:18 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Lightning -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Predators +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Against the spread/ATS: Lightning -1.5 (+170) | Predators +1.5 (-200)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Lightning at Predators: Projected starting goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (7-1-1, .931 SV%, 1.88 GAA) vs. Juuse Saros (3-3-0, .893 SV%, 3.31 GAA)
Vasilevskiy has started every game for the Bolts and has a league-best 7 victories. He stopped 52 of 57 shots in the two wins over the Predators and most recently allowed just 2 goals on a total of 44 shots in back-to-back wins over the Detroit Red Wings.
Saros played one of the games against the Lightning in Tampa and allowed 4 goals on 27 shots in the loss. He started against the Florida Panthers Thursday but was pulled early after allowing 5 goals on just 24 shots. The Preds won 6-5 in overtime, but veteran G Pekka Rinne was credited with the win while stopping all 12 shots he faced in 22:53 of crease time.
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Lightning at Predators: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Predators 2, Lightning 1
Money line (ML)
The PREDATORS (+130) are worth a small investment for the upset victory on home ice. The first head-to-head meeting this season ended in a 4-3 victory for the Lightning, so the Preds can get goals past Vasilevskiy and keep it close.
The teams rank similarly in Corsi For percentage and percentage of scoring chances at 5-on-5 for the season. Nashville gave up more shot attempts but had more of the full-strength scoring chances in the first head-to-head contest.
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Against the spread (ATS)
It’s a little steep, but the PREDATORS +1.5 (-200) can also be backed with 1 goal of insurance in the event of a loss. Saros should come out with a better performance after several days of rest.
The Lightning won each of their last three games by 2 or more goals, but they had gone 2-1-1 in their previous four outings with both victories, including one over the Preds, decided by just a single goal.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-120) is the best play in this game. Both power-play units are in the bottom half of the league and both teams are in the bottom half in total goals per game.
The teams are a combined 10-9 against the Over/Under.
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