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  3. Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Tue 7:00 PM ET
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NHL · Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning

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Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks & Predictions

Game time: December 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET

Venue: Amalie Arena — Tampa, FL

Article updated Dec 16, 11:00 PM EST

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

In an upcoming Eastern Conference matchup, the Columbus Blue Jackets will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blue Jackets are coming off a road loss to the

Game outlook

In an upcoming Eastern Conference matchup, the Columbus Blue Jackets will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blue Jackets are coming off a road loss to the Hurricanes, while the Lightning secured a win against the Kraken. Previously, Columbus defeated Tampa Bay with a score of 7-6 in November. The Lightning are currently the betting favorite with opening odds of -245. It will be interesting to see if the Blue Jackets can contain the Lightning in this anticipated game. Be sure to check out the prediction for this matchup.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Blue Jackets +212 | Lightning -245

Spread: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-120) | Lightning -1.5 (+100)

Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 71%.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets are wrapping up a quick road trip and are just three points away from a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite a recent slump of four consecutive losses, defenseman Zach Werenski has been a standout player with 31 points and a +6 rating this season. On the other hand, Kirill Marchenko has been consistent with 29 points, while Cole Sillinger has struggled with only one point in his last five games. The team's goaltending has been an area of concern with both Daniel Tarasov and Elvis Merzlikins facing challenges. Offensively, Columbus ranks 11th in goal scoring but struggles defensively, allowing an average of 3.6 goals per game. For expert guidance during the NHL season, consider using our top Hockey handicappers.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

Tampa Bay Lightning Analysis

The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division, six points out of first, but their recent offensive prowess has been impressive. Winning four of their past five games, including a dominant 5-1 road win against the Kraken, the team has been led by standout performances from Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point. Kucherov has accumulated 14 points in his past six games, second in the NHL with 46 points overall, while Point has amassed 15 points in December and 36 points on the season. The Lightning also continues to rely on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has been stellar with a 2.41 GAA and .910 save %. The team ranks 1st in offense, scoring an average of 4.0 goals per game, and 10th in defense, allowing an average of 2.9 goals per game. Despite their strong performance, Columbus has had success in their last three matchups against Tampa Bay. It is important to do research before seeking out top Sportsbook Promos.

Tampa Bay Lightning's Offense Shines as Columbus Blue Jackets Struggle

The Columbus Blue Jackets have faced challenges recently, losing four consecutive games and winning only one of their last eight. They have also struggled in three out of their last four away games. On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Lightning have shown strong performance, winning four out of their last five games. Tampa Bay's offense has been impressive, scoring 26 goals in their past five games. With Columbus giving up a high number of goals and Tampa Bay's potent offense, it is anticipated that Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets' goalkeeper with a save percentage of .887, will face difficulty. Considering that five of the Lightning's last six victories have been by at least two goals, it is advisable to consider the puck line.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Unavailable

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Unavailable

#ColumbusBlueJackets#TampaBayLightning

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Blue Jackets vs Lightning archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Blue Jackets vs Lightning matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Columbus Blue Jackets+212 → +225Moved
  • Moneyline · Tampa Bay Lightning-245 → -265Moved
  • Spread · Columbus Blue Jackets+1.5 (-120) → +1.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Tampa Bay Lightning-1.5 (+100) → -1.5 (-108)Moved
  • Total · Over6.5 (-110) → 6.5 (-110)Unchanged
  • Total · Under6.5 (-110) → 6.5 (-110)Unchanged

ATS and O/U trends

Columbus Blue Jackets
5-5 matchup record · 4-6-0 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Tampa Bay Lightning
7-3 matchup record · 7-3-0 ATS · 5-2-3 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2024-12-17T04:00:17.904Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

No verified injury or availability note was included in the published matchup research.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2024-11-21Tampa Bay Lightning 6 · Columbus Blue Jackets 7
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3

Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on December 17, 2024, a 2-goal decision in the series. Tampa Bay Lightning's strongest period was the 2nd period, when it outscored its opponent 3-0. Against SportsJaw's recorded Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5 (-110) spread, Tampa Bay Lightning covered, while the 8 combined goals finished over the recorded total of 6.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

  • 1188460207Total · Over 6.5 (-110)Win
  • HopkinspicksMoneyline · Tampa Bay Lightning -245Win
  • Mr_BiggsMoneyline · Tampa Bay Lightning -248Win
  • OddssharkTotal · Over 6.5 (-110)Win