Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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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Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Columbus Blue Jackets (36-36-7) buzz down to the 813 to face the Tampa Bay Lightning (49-22-8) Tuesday at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we look at the Blue Jackets vs. Lightning odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.

Columbus ended a four-game losing stkid with a 5-2 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers Sunday. RW Jakub Voracek had three helpers in the game to bring his total to a team-leading 59 points on the season.

Tampa has won three in a row and is rolling on offense. The Lightning have scored 22 goals in their last three games. C Steven Stamkos has 4 goals and 6 assists during that three-game stretch and is up to 97 points on the year. RW Nikita Kucherov has goals in six straight games and 16 points along that span.

Blue Jackets at Lightning odds 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 9:02 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Blue Jackets +300 (bet $100 to win $300) | Lightning -400 (bet $400 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Flyers +1.5 (+120) | Blackhawks -1.5 (-150)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: -105)

Blue Jackets at Lightning projected goalies

Elvis Merzlikins (26-21-7, 3.24 GAA, .907 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (37-18-5, 2.49 GAA, .917 SV%, 2 SO)

Merzlikins has had a solid April at 4-4-2 with a 2.48 GAA and a .927 SV%. He has stopped 58 of 61 shots across his last two games. The 28-year-old Latvian has not faced Tampa this year.

“Vasey” has been a little giving in April with four games of at least 4 goals allowed – including Sunday at the Florida Panthers. His 3.19 GAA is his worst for a month all season. He beat Columbus in January, stopping 20 of 22 shots.

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Blue Jackets at Lightning picks and predictions

Prediction

Lightning 5, Blue Jackets 3

Money line

There isn’t a lot to profit on in this matchup – especially when Tampa will cause you to risk an astounding four times your return. PASS.

Against the spread

I generally don’t like betting puck lines of -150 or more because goals are hard to score in the NHL.

Recent trends lean to this one, though. Tampa beat Columbus 7-2 in January and it’s won two of the last three contests against the Blue Jackets by 2 goals or more. There is some concern that they’ll take the foot off the gas with just three games left after scoring 22 goals in three games, however, we’re going to LEAN LIGHTNING -1.5 (-150) for a half-unit.

Over/Under

The Over has cashed in the last five games Tampa was an outright favorite, the last time it was a home favorite and its last six overall. Columbus has posted 4 goals in five of its last 10 games. So we’re going to take the OVER 6.5 (-120).

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