Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
When: Friday, January 13, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – view all NHL lines
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Betting on the Columbus Blue Jackets (28-8-4)
The Blue Jackets are no longer grabbing wins like they’re on discounts having lost three of their last four games, but they still are the only team with 60 points as of this writing. A match against Tampa Bay, which they’ve already beaten twice this season, could deliver that kickstart for a Columbus squad that is coming off a 5-3 road loss to Carolina on Tuesday.
Columbus beat the Bolts last Nov. 25 (5-3) and Nov. 29 (5-1). The offensive outbursts of the Blue Jackets against Tampa Bay could continue later tonight, considering how rotten Tampa Bay’s defense has been lately. The Bolts have allowed 24 goals over their last five games. That sounds like a tasty lunch for Columbus, which is third in the NHL in scoring with 3.3 goals per game.
The Blue Jackets have also gone 0-for-6 on the power play in the last two games, but could end their silence on the man advantage versus Tampa Bay’s 22nd ranked penalty kill unit.
Columbus is 8-2 in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning (20-19-4)
Jameis Winston could be playing goalie for the Lightning and just deliver a performance as well as how the Lightning have defended recently.
As mentioned earlier, Tampa Bay’s defense is the biggest weakness of the team right now. That said, the change in goalie from Andrei Vasilevskiy to Ben Bishop worked wonders in Thursday’s 4-2 home win over the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
The Bolts are going to need more than their goalie to contain Columbus’ offense. Their blueline must play tighter coverage with opponents outshooting Tampa Bay for most of it past few games.
One bright spot for Tampa Bay this season is its power play unit that ranks second in the NHL. The Lightning went 2-for-3 on the man advantage in the last two meetings with the Blue Jackets.
Tampa Bay is 5-5 in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Columbus wins, 4-2.
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