Tampa Bay Lightning vs
Chicago BlackhawksPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Lightning favored to win over struggling Chicago Blackhawks in Friday night matchup

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center in Chicago, IL on Friday night. The Lightning are favored to win, with odds starting at -220 and currently at -225. The puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET with a total of 6.0 goals. This matchup is one of our NHL picks for Friday, so let's take a closer look at this Lightning vs. Blackhawks prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Lightning -225 | Blackhawks +190
• Spread: Lightning -1.5 (+110) | Blackhawks +1.5 (-135)
• Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 69%.

Tampa Bay vs Chicago Stats

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently on a four-game road trip, experiencing losses against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. Despite Nick Paul scoring two goals in Toronto, goaltenders Jonas Johansson and Andrei Vasilevskiy struggled, resulting in surprising defeats. In their last game against the Canadiens, the Lightning blew a two-goal lead and struggled on the power play. Vasilevskiy has a strong overall record, while Johansson has had mixed results. The team is dealing with injuries to defensemen J.J. Moser and Erik Cernak, who may not play against the Blackhawks. Despite their recent setbacks, Tampa Bay ranks highly in offense and defense in the NHL power rankings. They have a record of 25-18-3 this season.

Chicago Blackhawks Analysis

The Chicago Blackhawks have struggled in recent games, dropping 11 of their last 14 overall and facing a 1-3-2 record in their previous six outings. Despite a brief victory against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Blackhawks suffered an overtime defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. Forward Craig Smith and Pat Maroon were absent from the match, with defenseman Connor Murphy on the injured reserve. Petr Mrazek had an impressive 44 saves but ultimately fell short. The team ranks 29th in both offense and defense, with a 15-28-4 overall record. Their upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Lightning may prove challenging based on recent matchups.

Lightning poised for victory over struggling Blackhawks in upcoming matchup

The upcoming game presents an opportune moment for the Lightning to recover from their recent losses to Toronto and Montreal. The struggling Blackhawks are facing defensive challenges that may hinder their ability to contain Tampa Bay's formidable offense. While Chicago boasts a strong penalty-killing record, their performance in five-on-five situations ranks low in the league. With their history of allowing multiple goals in recent games, the Blackhawks are likely to struggle against the Lightning's offensive prowess. Tampa Bay has a strong record against Chicago, winning nine out of their last ten encounters by a margin of two or more goals. This suggests a high probability of success for the Lightning in the upcoming matchup.

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