Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions January 7th 2025

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes January 7th 2025

The Hurricanes and Lightning are set to face off at 7:00 ET on FDSS. The Lightning will host the game at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The Hurricanes are the -1.5 goal favorite in this Eastern conference matchup against Lightning. The over/under for the game is set at 6 goals.

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Carolina vs. Tampa Bay Key Information

Carolina improved to 24-14-2 with a 4-2 road win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

After taking a 1-0 lead, the Hurricanes allowed two goals in the first period. They responded with three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.

Carolina fired 45 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Washington, with Dmitry Orlov scoring twice on his 3 shots. Martin Necas added his 6th goal of the season, while Andrei Svechnikov netted his 6th on an empty net with 9 seconds left in the game.

Necas also picked up two assists, bringing his total to 12 for the season. The Hurricanes had 14 giveaways and were held scoreless on the power play.

After giving up two late goals in the first period, Carolina’s defense tightened up, not allowing another goal to the Capitals. Pyotr Kochetkov finished with 19 saves and a 90.5% save percentage, while the Hurricanes’ defense recorded 7 takeaways and 10 hits.

Tampa Bay fell to 20-15-2 after a 7-4 loss to the Jets. The Lightning were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 6.5 goals was surpassed by the game’s 11 combined goals.

The Lightning led 2-0 early, but the Jets responded with seven of the next nine goals. Four different players scored for Tampa Bay in the loss.

Tampa Bay’s offense managed 4 goals on 30 shots in their 7-4 loss to Winnipeg. The Lightning struck twice in the first period, with Brandon Hagel netting his 7th goal and Brayden Point adding his 8th on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee followed with his 4th goal in the second period, and Nikita Kucherov scored his 10th in the third.

The Lightning had 8 giveaways and recorded 4 assists on their 4 goals. Jake Guentzel picked up his 8th assist, while Nick Paul earned his 7th. Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov also contributed, each with their 10th assist of the season.

Defensively, Tampa Bay gave up the first goal to the Jets at 7:37 in the first period and allowed two more in the second. After tying the game at 4-4 in the third, the Lightning’s defense faltered, giving up three more goals, including two empty-netters. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage.

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Hurricanes to defeat the Lightning while playing on the road. Given the current moneyline odds at -116, I’m placing a wager on the Hurricanes to win outright.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Lightning to cover. Even if the Hurricanes win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Lightning should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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After Rough Road Trip, Lightning Aim to Energize Offense vs. Hurricanes

The Tampa Bay Lightning return home after a challenging California road trip that exposed their offensive struggles. Hosting the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, the Lightning will look to revive their scoring touch and snap a season-long four-game skid.

Lightning Look to Reignite Offense

Tampa Bay managed just three goals in as many games during their West Coast swing, falling to the San Jose Sharks (2-1), Los Angeles Kings (2-1), and Anaheim Ducks (4-1). The once-prolific offense, which led the NHL with 3.94 goals per game entering the trip, now sits at 3.70 goals per game, good for second in the league.

“In the end, we scored three goals in three games,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s tough to win when you’re not scoring, and we’ve been used to scoring a lot this year. A lot of guys on this team who are used to putting it in couldn’t put them in on this trip.”

Anthony Cirelli, Victor Hedman, and Jake Guentzel accounted for Tampa Bay’s goals during the road trip. Nikita Kucherov, who leads the team with 55 points, had an assist on Sunday and will be a focal point as the Lightning aim to bounce back.

Hurricanes Heating Up

Carolina comes into Tampa Bay with momentum, having earned points in four of its last five games (3-1-1). The Hurricanes are led by Sebastian Aho, who reached the 600-point milestone with his overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. Aho has two goals and five assists in his last five games, bringing his season total to 43 points.

“Even when he’s not on the score sheet, he’s been around it,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Aho. “That’s the guy we need.”

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Seth Jarvis is also in excellent form, tallying two goals and an assist in the win over Pittsburgh, giving him eight points over his last five games. Martin Necas leads Carolina with 47 points, including a team-high 32 assists, while Jack Roslovic paces the Hurricanes with 17 goals.

Season Series and Schedule Notes

Tuesday’s game is a rescheduled matchup from Oct. 12, postponed due to Hurricane Milton’s impact in Florida. The Lightning won the season opener against Carolina 4-1 on Oct. 11, thanks to a third-period hat trick by Kucherov.

Both teams are seeking to build momentum as the midpoint of the season approaches. Tampa Bay will look to reclaim the offensive form that made them league leaders, while Carolina aims to continue its recent surge behind its stars.