Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks odds, picks and predictions
The Tampa Bay Lightning (6-6-4) and Chicago Blackhawks (5-8-0) meet Thursday with opening puck drop at the United Center slated for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Lightning vs. Blackhawks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Tampa Bay played at the St. Louis Blues Tuesday and were shut out (5-0) for a 2nd straight game in what marked their 3rd straight loss. The Bolts are just 2-4-2 since Oct. 30, which includes a 5-3 home loss to Chicago on Nov. 9.
The Blackhawks head into this game with a couple of extra days of rest. They split in a pair of games in Florida last week. The back half of that sunshine swing was a 4-3 loss at the Florida Panthers Sunday. Rookie sensation Connor Bedard planted his 8th and 9th goals in the loss.
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Lightning at Blackhawks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Lightning -190 (bet $200 to win $100) | Blackhawks +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning -1.5 (+125) | Blackhawks +1.5 (-150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Lightning at Blackhawks projected goalies
Jonas Johansson (5-4-4, 3.47 GAA, .896 SV%) vs. Petr Mrazek (4-3-0, 2.84, .921 SV%)
Johansson allowed 4 goals Tuesday against the Blues and has allowed 4-plus goals in 6 consecutive games. That includes yielding 5 to these Blackhawks last Thursday,
Mrazek is making his 1st start since stopping 30 of 33 against the Bolts Nov. 9. He owns a .940 SV% over 2 starts at home.
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Lightning at Blackhawks picks and predictions
Prediction
Blackhawks 4, Lightning 3
Moneyline
Over the last 2 seasons combined, Tampa Bay owns a robust .745 point percentage when playing on 1-day rest. But over that stretch, the Lightning are just 12-10-0 (.545) on 2-days of rest, as is the case here. This season, they are just 2-4-2 on the road.
Chicago's puck-possession numbers have been pretty shaky, but Mrazek has been quite good and the price here is solid.
BACK THE BLACKHAWKS (+155).
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS. The leverage on the ML play is solid.
Over/Under
The Over is a lean, but let's not contribute any funds or even attention to a 30-cent proposition.
STEER CLEAR.
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