Chicago Blackhawks vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Pick & Prediction 1/28/25
The Blackhawks 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 favored by -1.5 vs. the Blackhawks.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 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, January 28th.
WHY BET THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:
- With a 1.5-goal advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Lightning to secure a 4-3 victory.
- Take the Lightning on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Blackhawks (+1.5)
Can Chicago Deliver Being Underdogs on the Road?
Chicago improved to 15-29-5 with a 4-2 road win over the Ducks. The Blackhawks covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 6 goals fell just short of the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.
All four of Chicago’s goals came from different players, with Isaak Phillips opening the scoring at 7:03 in the first period. The Blackhawks built a 4-0 lead before the Ducks scored twice, including a goal with only 4 seconds left in the game.
Chicago’s offense netted four goals in their 4-2 win over Anaheim, with Ryan Donato scoring his 7th goal of the season. Seth Jones added his 2nd, while Teuvo Teravainen and Isaak Phillips also found the net. Teravainen’s goal came on a power play, his 4th of the season.
Connor Bedard contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to 9. The Blackhawks took 29 shots on goal and scored twice on power plays. They also recorded 12 giveaways in the game.
Chicago’s defense was solid in their last game, allowing just two goals to Anaheim. Arvid Söderblom made 38 saves with a 95% save percentage, and the Blackhawks’ defense added 6 takeaways and 5 hits. Both of the Ducks’ goals came in the 3rd period, with the second coming with just 4 seconds left.
Will the Tampa Bay Defense Show Up at Home?
Tampa Bay’s record dropped to 26-19-3 after a 7-4 loss to the Jets. The Lightning held a 2-0 lead early in the game, but their defense faltered, allowing seven unanswered goals. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals easily surpassed that figure. Tampa Bay was the underdog on the puck line, and they failed to cover.
Four different Lightning players found the net, but the Jets pulled away with two empty-net goals in the third period. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled, giving up four goals in the final period.
Brandon Hagel got things started for Tampa Bay with his 7th goal of the season, followed by Brayden Point’s 8th on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th, scoring for the Lightning in the third period to tie the game at 4-4.
The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They had 4 assists on their 4 goals.
Defensively, the Lightning will look to bounce back after allowing seven goals to the Jets. Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with a save percentage of 84.4%. Tampa Bay’s defense finished with 6 takeaways and 16 hits. The Lightning were tied 4-4 in the 3rd period before giving up three late goals, including two empty-netters.