Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

The Blue Jackets and Lightning are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Lightning will host the game at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6.5 goals, and the Lightning are -1.5 goal favorite to win at home against the Blue Jackets.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING BETTING PICK

The Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning -1.5

This game will be played at Amalie Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:

• With the Lightning being favored by 1.5, our NHL analytics models has this one playing out 4-3 in favor of the Lightning.
• Take the Lightning on the moneyline
• On the spread, we like Blue Jackets (+1.5)

Will the Blue Jackets Find a Way to Win in Tampa?

Columbus dropped to 12-14-5 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line and the total of 6.5 goals was surpassed with the 9 combined goals.

Defensively, Columbus struggled from the start, allowing their first goal just 56 seconds into the game. They gave up five goals in the first period, making it difficult to recover.

Columbus managed 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets, netting his fourth goal of the season early in the second period. Kevin Labanc added another goal, his second of the year.

Sean Monahan picked up his fifth assist on Labanc’s goal, while Zach Aston-Reese recorded his second assist. Adam Fantilli contributed with his fourth assist on Severson’s goal. Columbus ended the game with 13 giveaways.

Columbus’ defense struggled in their last game, allowing 7 goals on just 22 shots from the Capitals. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but had a save percentage of 68.2%. The Blue Jackets’ defense also had 10 takeaways and 17 hits. The defense gave up the first 5 goals of the game, with the first coming just 56 seconds into the first period. They also allowed the final goal at 18:34 of the third period.

Will Tampa Bay Make it Happen at Home?

Following a 7-4 loss to the Jets, the Lightning’s record dropped to 16-10-2. Tampa Bay held a 2-0 lead in the first period, but their defense faltered, giving up seven unanswered goals. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals easily surpassed that mark.

Tampa Bay was the underdog on the puck line, and their defense couldn’t hold up, allowing the Jets to score twice in the final period to seal the win. Four different Lightning players found the net, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their defensive struggles.

In their 7-4 loss to the Jets, Tampa Bay’s offense netted four goals, with the first coming from Brandon Hagel, his seventh of the season. Brayden Point followed with his eighth goal, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his fourth goal, while Nikita Kucherov scored his 10th, unassisted, at 13:09 in the third period to tie the game 4-4.

The Lightning fired 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They scored twice in the first period, once in the second, and added their final goal in the third.

After the Lightning tied the game at 4-4 in the 3rd period, their defense struggled, allowing three straight goals to the Jets. The first came at the 7:38 mark, followed by two empty-netters. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage, while the defense added 6 takeaways and 16 hits.