Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Pick & Prediction 3/4/25
Planning on watching today’s Blue Jackets and Lightning game? Catch the action at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, as the Lightning hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. 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, March 4th.
WHY BET THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:
- Our projections indicate that the Lightning should come out top with a projected score of 4-2.
- Take the Lightning on the moneyline
- The Lightning should also cover at -1.5
Will Columbus Secure A Victory as Road Underdogs?
Columbus fell to 30-22-8 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals. The game’s 9 total goals pushed it well over the line.
The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, allowing 5 goals in the first period. Damon Severson and Kevin Labanc each scored for Columbus, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Washington’s offense.
Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only managed two in their 7-2 loss to the Capitals. Damon Severson netted his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were shut out in the 1st period before Severson scored 49 seconds into the 2nd, and Labanc followed with a goal at the 5:24 mark.
Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities. Adam Fantilli picked up his 4th assist on Severson’s goal, while Sean Monahan earned his 5th assist on Labanc’s tally. Zach Aston-Reese also contributed with his 2nd assist of the season.
Defensively, Columbus struggled, allowing the first five goals of the game, all in the first period. After cutting the deficit to 6-2 in the second period, they gave up another goal late in the third. Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but had a save percentage of just 68.2%.
Are Tampa Bay Ready for a Home Win?
The Lightning fell to 35-21-4 after a 7-4 loss to the Jets. Tampa Bay led 2-0 early, but Winnipeg responded with seven of the next nine goals. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals easily surpassed that mark. Tampa Bay, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover.
Four different Lightning players scored in the game. They took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Jets tied it up by the 5:49 mark of the second. Tampa Bay managed to tie the game again at 4-4 in the third, but the Jets scored three unanswered goals to seal the win.
Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for the Lightning with his 7th goal of the season, followed by Brayden Point’s 8th, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal in the second period, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th, unassisted, in the third period.
The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They scored twice in the first period, added another in the second, and capped their scoring with Kucherov’s goal in the third.
Tampa Bay’s defense struggled late, giving up the final three goals in their 7-4 loss to the Jets. Two of those goals were empty-netters, but the first came at the 7:38 mark of the 3rd period. Goalie Jonas Johansson finished with a save percentage of 84.4% on 32 shots, and the Lightning’s defense added 6 takeaways and 16 hits.