The New Jersey Devils (15-21-5) are on the road for a meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning (28-10-5) Thursday. Puck drop at Amalie Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Devils vs. Lightning odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Devils have dropped five of their last six games, including a 5-1 home loss to the Dallas Stars Tuesday. New Jersey has had trouble generating offense in many of its recent outings, scoring 2 or fewer goals in four of its last five games. The Devils did light the lamp for 7 goals in the other game, but that notably came across a rookie goaltender making his first career start.
The Lightning have won five of their last six games, including a 7-1 road victory at the San Jose Sharks Saturday. Tampa Bay, quite the opposite of New Jersey, has been generating a lot of offense and has scored 3 or more goals in all five of its victories across the six-game span.
Devils at Lightning odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Devils +250 (bet $100 to win $250) | Lightning -320 (bet $320 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Devils +1.5 (+100) | Lightning -1.5 (-125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -120)
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Devils at Lightning projected goalies
Jon Gillies (1-3-0, 3.08 GAA, .900 SV%) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (23-7-3, 2.25 GAA, .922 SV%)
Gillies is expected to get the nod with starter Mackenzie Blackwood on injured reserve and Tuesday’s starter, Akira Schmid, shelled for 3 goals on just 7 shots Tuesday. Gillies gave up just 1 goal on 24 shots in relief against the Stars but allowed 10 goals on 94 shots in three January starts.
Vasilevskiy has posted his worst save percentage (.901) and goals against average (2.56) of any month this season in January. The former Vezina and Conn Smythe winner has allowed 4 goals in each of his last two starts, but he should be ready to bounce back after five days of rest.
Devils at Lightning odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 5, Devils 2
Money line
The Lightning will seek revenge for a November loss to the Devils, and the goaltending matchup should help secure that. Tampa Bay should be well-rested following four days off after their west coast road trip, but with a money line risk of more than three times your potential return, it has got to be a PASS.
Against the spread
The Lightning are 7-3 over their last 10 games, and all seven of those wins have come by 2 or more goals — some of which were against teams of a higher pedigree than the Devils.
The gap between the pipes and in the overall form of each team should lend itself to a little value on LIGHTNING -1.5 (-125). I usually prefer to play plus money to give up the puck-and-a-half, but I think it’s worth a partial unit here.
Over/Under
Tampa Bay has been clicking offensively lately and should be able to do most of the necessary damage toward this total themselves. It’s a little on the high side, but in games with totals of greater than 6, the Lightning are 1-0 O/U and the Devils are 5-2 O/U.
Tampa has rattled off six Over results in its last seven games, and the first meeting between these two sides hit a total of 8 goals. Consider the OVER 6.5 (-105).
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