The Chicago Blackhawks (0-1-0) and Tampa Bay Lightning (1-0-0) close out a season-opening two-game set Friday night at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Blackhawks-Lightning NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Blackhawks at Lightning: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:25 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Blackhawks +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Lightning -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Blackhawks +1.5 (-115) | Lightning -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Blackhawks at Lightning: Projected starting goalies
Collin Delia (Career: 7-5-3, .906 SV%, 3.65 GAA) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (2021: 1-0-0, .957 SV%, 1.01 GAA)
Delia is in as part of a two- or even three-headed rotation now that Corey Crawford (retired) and Robin Lehner (traded to Vegas) are gone. The 26-year-old is making his first NHL start since the 2018-19 season. Last year, Delia logged a .912 SV% at AHL Rockford.
Vasilevskiy was sharp, although not tested with a lot of dangerous scoring chances, in Wednesday’s season opener. A year ago, the 26-year-old was a bit better away from home, both in the regular season and in the summer playoffs, and that fits a career trend going back a few years.
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Blackhawks at Lightning: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Tampa Bay 4, Chicago 3
Money line (ML)
The Bolts are 10-6-1 over their last 17 regular-season games dating back to last February. The Blackhawks are certainly the underdogs in Game 2 of this series but with a straight-up tag of +230, the price is attractive enough to warrant a play.
Consider CHICAGO (+230) as complementary action to the puck line below.
Against the spread (ATS)
After unveiling their 2019-20 Stanley Cup banner and displaying said trophy at center ice, the Lightning jolted the Blackhawks 5-1 Wednesday. Tampa Bay dominated in 5-on-5 scoring and high-danger chances. A banged-up and youthful Chicago team was never in the game, and that figures to be a common narrative for the ‘Hawks as this season unfolds, especially against top opponents.
All of that is overcompensated in the puck line for Game 2. Look for enough of a goaltending/defense bounceback to warrant a play on the BLACKHAWKS +1.5 (-115).
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS. An Over is the lean in principle, but the new-look Chicago lines and the short training camp make for too much gray area.
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