The Tampa Bay Lightning look to avoid being swept at Nationwide Arena in Game 4 of the postseason’s first round. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 16, and you’ll be able to catch it live on CNBC, R360, TVA and FSOH.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
The Lightning (-135) are currently favored over the Blue Jackets (+115), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Tampa Bay is 62-23 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 22.9 units this season. 45 of its games have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just three have pushed. As a road team this season, the Bolts are 30-12 SU.
After accounting for the league’s strongest power-play unit in the regular season (finding net on 27.8 percent of all opportunities), the Lightning have yet to find net in the playoffs.
The Lightning’ offensive attack attempted 31.8 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.9 goals per outing (ranked first overall in the NHL). In the playoffs, however, the team is dropped to an average of 28.0 shots on goal (while being up to 1.7 goals per game).
Averaging 29.6 saves per game with a .923 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (39-17-4) has been the top option in goal for Tampa Bay this season. If head coach Jon Cooper decides to rest him, however, the team might go with Louis Domingue (21-5 record, .908 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
On the other side of the rink, Columbus is 50-35 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 7.5 units this season. 47 of its matches have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just six have pushed. This season, the team is 23-19 SU at home.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 16.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.4 percent of all penalties.
Sergei Bobrovsky has denied 25.9 shots per game as the primary selection in the crease for the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky has 40 wins, 25 losses, and one OT loss and has registered a 2.54 goals against average and a .914 save percentage this year.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the under has hit in three of their last five games.
- Eight of Columbus’ last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 7-1 overall in those games.
- Tampa Bay skaters have accounted for the sixth-most hits in the league (26.2 per game).
