Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Lightning vs. Blue Jackets NHL Odds
Looking for Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Lightning taking on the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, January 4th at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Lightning Blue Jackets matchup.
(21-8-5) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-1)
Date: Tuesday, January 4th
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus OH
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Lightning -200 | Blue Jackets +170 (Bet Now!)
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Lightning -1.5 (+130)
NHL Betting Total: 5.5
The Lightning may be in 1st place in the Atlantic, but they’re in the midst of the roughest patch of their season with three straight losses. That stretch has included two losses against (surprising) 1st place New York and one against 2nd place Florida so maybe TB isn’t in that big of trouble.
Regardless of who Tampa Bay has lost to on their longest losing stretch of the season Columbus is in a good spot at home where they are 10-4-1 on the season. Being at Nationwide Arena didn’t do the Blue Jackets nay favors on Saturday though as they lost 7-4 to Carolina to start the 2022 calendar year 0-1.
Tampa Bay Lightning
It’s far from panic mode for the Lightning, who have lost three in a row but are still a point up in the Atlantic Conference. This current three game skid was preceded by wins in 9 of their previous 10 so Tampa Bay still has some great value even with a -200 price tag.
Tampa Bay was shut out for just the 2nd time of the season on Sunday in a 4-0 loss to the Rangers. While the NHL’s #10 ranked offense (3.2 goals/game) should have a bounce back against a struggling Columbus defense, the Lightning defense has some serious questions of their own for the first time in 3-4 years.
Maybe it’s a temporary hiccup, but the Lightning have allowed 21 goals in the last four games. On the bright side, regular goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has only been in net for one of those bad performances – but it was also the game where he stopped just 17 of 21 shots against the Rangers on Sunday.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus has dropped three of their last four games, and they are suffering through some major defensive issues right now just like Tampa Bay. The Blue Jackets have allowed 4+ goals in 6 of the last 8 making Tuesday’s O/U of 5.5 almost a lock on the ‘over.’
Columbus has played well at home though which gives them some value at +180. The Blue Jackets are 10-4-1 at Nationwide Arena and have gone 5-2 in their last 7 on their own ice.
There’s no better time for a Columbus upset than with Tampa Bay struggling on the defensive end. The Lightning are 15th in the league in goals allowed after ranking 7th and 8th the last two seasons.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Lightning are 5-2 last 7 road games
- Lightning are 38-17 last 55 as a favorite
- OVER is 4-1 Lightning last 5 overall
- Lightning are 5-2 last 7 in Columbus
- Lightning are 4-1 last 5 overall
- Blue Jackets are 5-2 last 7 home games
- Blue Jackets are 3-8 last 11 on 2 days rest
- Blue Jackets are 3-9 last 12 overall
- OVER is 7-1 in Blue Jackets last 8 vs. Eastern Conference
Free Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Prediction:
Right now it seems like -200 is just too high of a price to pay on a Tampa Bay squad that has lost three games in a row. Tampa Bay has value each and every night usually, but there defense is in shambles and the offense has been less than impressive as of late as well.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Blue Jackets +180
Great ROI on a Columbus squad that has been solid at home. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see this game on the higher scoring side of the 5.5 total.
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