The Nashville Predators (12-9-2) and Tampa Bay Lightning (15-9-1) meet Thursday at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Predators vs. Lightning odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Predators look to cap a 3-game road trip with a 4th consecutive victory overall. Nashville has benefitted from a combination of a solid power play, timely goals and good goaltending during the streak, including a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders last time out on Friday.
The Lightning were doubled up 4-2 at home by the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday, although they are still a solid 8-3 across the past 11 games overall. These teams just met Nov. 19, with the Lightning coming away with a 3-2 overtime win as the Under connected in the Music City.
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Predators at Lightning odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:12 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Predators +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Lightning -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Predators +1.5 (-150) | Lightning -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Predators at Lightning projected goalies
Juuse Saros (9-6-2, 2.92 GAA, .909 SV%) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (10-8-1, 2.75 GAA, .909 SV%)
Saros allowed 3 goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 overtime road win against the New Jersey Devils Thursday in his most recent outing, and he has won 3 straight starts while going 6-0-1 across the past 7. The lone blemish is a 3-2 OT loss to the Lightning Nov. 19, although he was certainly not at fault with 36 saves.
Vasileskiy had a rather uneven start to the season by his standards, but he actually started to turn things around since that OT win in Nashville. He made 30 saves on 32 shots in that victory, and he has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 5 of his last 7 starts overall, rounding into his usual form.
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Predators at Lightning picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 3, Predators 2
The Lightning (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, and that’s just too much risk for not enough reward.
This is going to be a low-scoring game with some goaltending that really could go either way.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The PREDATORS +1.5 (-150) aren’t priced out of line if you’d like a little bit of insurance.
Nashville seeks revenge after losing in OT on home ice in the first meeting, and regulation might not be enough here to determine a winner, either. Tampa has been to overtime in 4 of the previous 10 games, winning each contest.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-120) is easily the best play on the board.
Saros and Vasilevskiy are each rounding into mid-season form after some trials and tribulations during the first month or so of the season. Both teams have picked up their respective teams and carried them lately. This will be a game where goals are at a bit of a premium, similar to the first meeting.
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