Blue Jackets vs. Lightning Prediction
The NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning begin their postseason quest for a Stanley Cup Trophy tonight when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Will Tampa Bay roll by multiple goals to win on the puckline?
Game Snapshot
1 Columbus Blue Jackets at 2 Tampa Bay Lightning
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Amalie Arena at 7PM ET
TV: USA
Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our NHL Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Lightning are listed as a -230 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Blue Jackets are a +190 underdog, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. The puckline lists Tampa Bay at +110, while Columbus is at -130. As of Wednesday morning, 88 percent of public bets are pouring in on the host Lightning. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
Blue Jackets enter playoffs hot
The Blue Jackets clinched their playoff spot in the second-to-last game and completed the regular season with seven wins in their last eight games including three via shutout. Left winger Artemi Panarin leads Columbus in scoring with 28 goals and 59 assists over 79 games. Right winger Cam Atkinson contributed 41 goals and 28 assists in 80 games, while center Pierre-Luc Dubois tallied 27 goals and 34 assists. Veteran Sergei Bobrovsky got stronger as the season wore on and enters the postseason with a 37-24-1 record and a 2.58 goals-against average plus a .913 save percentage. The Blue Jackets lost to the Capitals in six games in the first round of last year’s Eastern Conference playoffs.
Lightning enjoy dominant regular season
Tampa Bay finished the regular season with a 62-16-4 record and 128 points, which was 21 points better than the next-best team in the NHL. The Lightning are led up front by right winger Nikita Kucherov, who racked up 41 goals and 87 assists. Center Steven Stamkos registered 45 goals and 53 assists, while fellow center Brayden Point accounted for 41 goals and 51 assists. Minding the net will be Andrei Vasilevskiy, whoe registered a 39-10-4 record plus a 2.40 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in 53 games. Tampa Bay advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season before losing to Washington in a grueling seven-game series.
NHL Betting Trends
Columbus
The Blue Jackets are 5-0 in their last five road games. Columbus is 5-1 in its last six games versus the Eastern Conference.
Tampa Bay
The Lightning are 6-1 in their last seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals games. Tampa Bay is 44-8 in its last 52 Eastern Conference games.
Prediction:
Tampa Bay has had a dominant season, but things get a little tight in the playoffs and Columbus is coming in hot and wanting to secure the upset win to set the tone. I don’t think that will happen, but look for this one to come down to a late goal or an overtime score. Taking the Blue Jackets on the puckline has better value than the Lightning moneyline.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS PL -130