The Vegas Golden Knights (25-16-3) travel to meet the Tampa Bay Lightning (29-10-5) Saturday at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Golden Knights vs. Lightning odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Golden Knights have dropped back-to-back games after opening a four-game road trip with a 1-0 win in Washington. Vegas fell 4-1 last time out at the Florida Panthers Thursday as the Under cashed.
The Lightning won the first meeting of these team in Vegas Dec. 21, the final game in the NHL before the COVID pause and holiday break. The two-time defending champs have picked up victories in six of their last seven outings.
Golden Knights 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 9:35 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Golden Knights +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Lightning -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights +1.5 (-200) | Lightning -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +115 | U: -145)
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Golden Knights at Lightning projected goalies
Robin Lehner (17-12-1, 2.82 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (24-7-3, 2.25 GAA, .922 SV%, 2 SO)
Lehner has posted a rather mediocre 3-3-1 record in seven January starts, but he has a 2.13 GAA and .919 SV%. A lack of offensive support has kept him out of the win column, as Vegas has posted just 13 goals of support in his last six starts.
Vasilevskiy has picked up victories in five of his past six starts, and offensive support hasn’t been a problem for him. The Lightning are averaging 4.0 goals per game across his last nine starts.
Golden Knights at Lightning odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 3, Golden Knights 1
Money line
The LIGHTNING (-145) are a solid play behind Vasilevskiy at home. Tampa Bay has been lighting the lamp at a feverish pace recently for their goaltender, while Vegas has really struggled to light the lamp lately.
Against the spread
The LIGHTNING -1.5 (+150) is worth a small-unit play. Tampa Bay has won by 2 or more goals in seven of its last eight victories.
Tampa Bay has cashed in eight of its last nine against Western Conference opponents, while going 39-13 in its previous 52 against Pacific Division teams.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-145) is the best play on the board, as Vegas has struggled to light the lamp, and Vasilevskiy certainly isn’t going to make it easy for it to snap out of that funk. Lehner has also been playing great in between the pipes, so look for Tampa to have some trouble tickling the twine, too.
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