St. Louis Blues vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions November 5th 2024

St. Louis Blues vs Tampa Bay Lightning November 5th 2024

Planning on watching today’s Lightning and Blues game? Catch the action at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, as the Blues hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Lightning are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference contest against the Blues. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6.5 goals.

Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis Key Information

Tampa Bay’s record moved to 7-5-0 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. Going into the game, the total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals easily surpassed that mark.

The Lightning were underdogs on the puck line, and their defense struggled, especially in the third period, giving up four goals. Tampa Bay’s offense came from four different players, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Jets.

Tampa Bay’s offense recorded 4 goals in their 7-4 loss to Winnipeg, with each goal coming from a different player. Brandon Hagel opened the scoring, netting his 7th goal of the season, while Brayden Point followed with his 8th on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov scored for the 10th time this season.

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The Lightning put 30 shots on goal and were held to just 4 assists. They scored twice in the first period, added a third goal in the second, and tied the game 4-4 in the third period before the Jets pulled away.

Defensively, the Lightning struggled late, giving up the final three goals in a 7-4 loss to the Jets. After tying the game at 4-4, Tampa Bay allowed a goal at the 7:38 mark of the 3rd period, followed by two empty-netters. Goalie Jonas Johansson finished with 27 saves and an 84.4% save percentage. The Lightning’s defense recorded 6 takeaways and 16 hits.

With a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, the Blues evened their record at 6-6-0. St. Louis covered the puck line as underdogs, with the total of 6 goals pushing the pre-game line.

After allowing a goal in the first period, the Blues responded with four straight, including an empty-netter. Three different players contributed to the scoring for St. Louis.

Colton Parayko scored twice for the Blues in their 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, finding the net for the second and third times this season. He also added his fifth assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s empty-net goal, which was Buchnevich’s fourth of the year. Jordan Kyrou contributed with his third goal, which came unassisted.

The Blues were held scoreless in the first period before scoring three times in the second. They took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. Ryan Suter picked up two assists, bringing his season total to three.

Defensively, the Blues will look to carry momentum from their previous game, where they allowed just 2 goals to Toronto. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves, posting a 94.6% save percentage. The Blues’ defense also contributed 3 takeaways, 17 hits, and 17 blocks.

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Lightning to come out with a win against the Blues while playing on the road. Considering the moneyline odds at -159, I’m placing my bet on the Lightning to win outright.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Blues to cover. Even in the event of a Lightning victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Blues should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Blues Eye Advantage Over Shaky Lightning Defense Despite Injury Woes

The St. Louis Blues will look to make the most of their home-ice advantage Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning as they face ongoing injuries and reshuffled lines on both sides. With an already injury-riddled lineup, the Blues will be without defenseman Philip Broberg for the next four to six weeks, as he joins several teammates on the sidelines. The Lightning, meanwhile, come into the game with defensive concerns of their own, especially after surrendering 12 goals in their last two games.

Broberg’s absence on defense has the Blues shifting key players around, with head coach Drew Bannister emphasizing the importance of adaptability for his injury-plagued team:

“We have a resilient bunch in there,” Bannister remarked. “We’re going to find ways to push through it.”

Broberg had been a solid contributor on the second defensive pairing, tallying two goals and seven assists across 12 games. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko acknowledged the gap Broberg’s absence leaves:

“He’s a huge part of our ‘D’ corps and our team,” Parayko said. “He plays a lot of minutes, he plays against a lot of top lines.”

Broberg’s injury follows several others for St. Louis, including the sidelining of No. 1 center Robert Thomas, top defenseman Nick Leddy, and winger Mathieu Joseph. Thomas is expected to be out until at least December, while Leddy and Joseph remain without return timelines. In response, Bannister has reshuffled the defensive lines, promoting Ryan Suter to the top pairing alongside Parayko, with Pierre-Olivier Joseph stepping up to join Justin Faulk on the second line.

Lightning Seek Defensive Answers Amid Potential Absence of Brayden Point

Tampa Bay also faces uncertainty, as top center Brayden Point left Sunday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets early with an undisclosed injury. Point had been a crucial offensive force, with eight goals and five assists across 12 games, anchoring the top line with Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel.

In Point’s absence, the Lightning turned to Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul for extended ice time, both logging season highs. The Lightning have one game left in their four-game road trip, which began on a positive note with a 5-2 victory over Colorado but took a turn with back-to-back losses in which they allowed a combined 12 goals.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper noted the struggles his team has faced on defense, particularly on the road:

“When you’re giving up the goals we’re giving up here on the road, it’s tough to win,” Cooper said, reflecting on the Lightning’s recent losses.

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As the team looks for solutions, defenseman Erik Cernak kept the focus on tightening up their play:

“We just have to be better,” Cernak emphasized. “We have to look into it and get better in those small details.”

The Lightning’s defense will need to make quick adjustments, particularly if Point remains sidelined, as they take on a Blues team eager to exploit any lapses.