The Columbus Blue Jackets (12-25-2) face the Tampa Bay Lightning (24-13-1) Tuesday at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jackets vs. Lightning odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blue Jackets had an up-and-down weekend. Columbus topped the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout Saturday, before losing a 1-0 heartbreaker on the road against the Washington Capitals Sunday.
The Lightning were doubled up 4-2 against the Winnipeg Jets Friday night, closing out a 3-game road trip with a 2nd consecutive loss as the total pushed for the 2nd straight outing.
These teams just met Dec. 14 in Tampa, with the Lightning winning 4-1.
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Blue Jackets at Lightning odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blue Jackets +350 (bet $100 to win $350) | Lightning -425 (bet $425 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jackets +2.5 (-150) | Lightning -2.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +110 | U: -130)
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Blue Jackets at Lightning projected goalies
Elvis Merzlikins (4-10-0, 4.52 GAA, .865 SV%) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (16-10-1, 2.45 GAA, .919 SV%)
Merzlikins made 18 saves in Sunday’s game at Washington, but it wasn’t good enough in the 1-0 loss. Still, it was a good sign that perhaps the backstop is showing some signs of turning things around. He has allowed 16 goals on his past 139 shots, an .885 SV% which shows some slight improvement lately.
Vasilevskiy allowed 3 goals on just 19 shots in the loss at Winnipeg Friday, but he has allowed 3 or fewer goals in each of his last 13 starts since Nov. 21. He turned aside 26 of the 28 shots he faced in a win at Columbus on Oct. 14.
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Blue Jackets at Lightning picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 4, Blue Jackets 2
Moneyline
The Lightning (-425) are overwhelming favorites, and will cost you over 4 times your potential return. There is never a reason to risk so much for such a small return, especially in hockey.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The BLUE JACKETS +2.5 (-150) is worth playing on the puck line.
You don’t see +2.5 lines very often, but when you do, take advantage. The Lightning -2.5 (+125) has dropped the last 2 games, getting outscored 9-3 in the process. It returns home where Tampa Bay has won the last 7 outings. However, the Lightning has won the last 2 games at Amalie by 2 or fewer goals, and the average margin of victory in the last 4 games at home is 2.25 GPG.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-130) is a little on the pricey side, but worth a look.
Merzlikins hopefully turned a corner in Washington last time out. And Vasilevskiy is also a solid performer, especially on home ice. He won’t allow much to the Jackets.
The Under is 15-6 in the last 21 games overall for Columbus, while going 9-2 in the last 11 against winning teams. The Under is also 8-2 in the last 10 on the road.
For the Lightning, the Under is 3-1-2 in the last 6 games overall, while going 6-1-1 in the last 8 against Eastern Conference foes, and 3-1-1 in the last 5 against Metropolitan Division opponents.
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