Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Blue Jackets vs Lightning NHL Odds
Looking for Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning free hockey plays & Stanley Cup Playoff Odds? NHL betting sees the Blue Jackets taking on the Lightning on Wednesday April 10th at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping playoff picks on all NHL Hockey playoff games so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Blue Jackets Lightning matchup.
2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 1
(47-31-3) Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (62-16-3)
Date: Wednesday, April 11th
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay, FL
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Blue Jackets +190 | Lightning -233
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds:
NHL Betting Total: 6.5
Live NHL Odds
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Columbus was able to fight their way into the 2nd wild card spot in the Eastern Conference holding off the Canadiens by 2 points. Their reward however is a trip to Tampa Bay to face the league’s top team.
The Lightning won the President’s Trophy with weeks to go in the regular season. Tampa Bay is obviously the favorite to take the Stanley Cup as well this season (+180).
Tampa Bay may not be a sure thing to win it all this year though as the best regular season team hasn’t hoisted the Cup since the 2012/13 Blackhawks. One game at a time though and Tampa Bay is a huge favorite Wednesday vs. Columbus (-233).
Columbus Blue Jackets
Nobody is giving Columbus much of a chance in this one but they do have a nice payout of +190 if they can pull off the upset. That could be possible as Tampa Bay really hasn’t played a meaningful game in weeks.
The Blue Jackets have momentum too, winning 7 of their last 8 games. Their defense is playing great having shut out two opponents over that span and holding four others to just 2 goals.
Columbus has also won five straight road games and were an impressive 25-14-2 away from Nationwide Arena this season.
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For as good as the Columbus defense has been, the offense is holding their own as well. The Blue Jackets have scored 4+ goals in 6 of their last 8 games.
Oliver Bjorkstrand has been especially solid on the offensive end, with 9 goals in the last 10 games. David Savard has 6 points the last six games and Pierre-Luc Dubois finished off the regular season with a 2 goal game. Columbus was a top 12 offense in scoring during the year, hence Wednesday’s O/U of 6.5.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Speaking of offense, the Lightning have got no problem putting the puck in the net either as they ranked tops in the league in goals/game this season. Tampa Bay was especially good on the PP, hitting on 28.2% of their opportunities.
Of course one of the biggest reasons Tampa Bay is such a threat on the offensive end of the ice is Nikita Kucherov and his league leading 128 points. Kucherov had two goals in the last two games of the season so he’s playoff ready.
The Lightning as a whole should be ready for the postseason. Wednesday’s contest will be their first at home in the last 10 days after a four game road swing to end the regular season. Tampa Bay was 32-7-1 at Amalie Arena on the year.
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One reason to lean towards the lower scoring side of things in this game 1 is because of Andrei Vasilevskiy in net for the Lightning. Vasilevskiy led all goaltenders in wins this season (39) but Columbus’ Sergie Bobrovsky was second (37).
NHL Betting Trends:
- Blue Jackets are 5-0 their last five road games
- Blue Jackets are 7-1 their last 8 overall
- Lightning are 45-12 their last 57 overall
- Lightning are 40-13 their last 53 home games
Free Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Prediction:
There’s no value for Wednesday in Tampa Bay at -235 and it’s asking a lot for Columbus to go into Amalie and get a win in front of a raucous crowd. Both teams have played solid defense down the stretch and with the intensity of the postseason amped up this should be a low scoring affair.
4* Free NHL Playoff Betting Pick: Under 6.5
NHL Free Score Prediction: Lightning 3 – Blue Jackets 2
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