Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets December 17th 2024

Betting on today’s Blue Jackets and Lightning game? Catch the action at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, as the Lightning hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this Eastern conference game currently have the Lightning as the -1.5 goal favorite with the over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals.

Columbus vs. Tampa Bay Key Information

Columbus fell to 12-14-5 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 9 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

Defensively, Columbus struggled from the start, allowing 5 goals in the first period. Damon Severson scored the Blue Jackets’ first goal at 19:11 in the second period.

Columbus managed just two goals in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson netted his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets fired 36 shots on goal but came up empty on the power play.

Columbus was held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second. Labanc followed with a goal at the 5:24 mark of the same period. The Blue Jackets had 13 giveaways in the game.

Columbus will need to tighten up defensively after allowing 7 goals to Washington in their last game. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves but posted a 68.2% save percentage. The Blue Jackets’ defense also had 10 takeaways and 17 hits. They gave up the first five goals, including one just 56 seconds into the 1st period, and allowed another late in the 3rd.

Following a 7-4 loss to the Jets, the Lightning’s record now stands at 16-10-2. Tampa Bay was the underdog on the puck line, and the total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

The Lightning held a 2-0 lead early in the game, but their defense faltered, allowing the Jets to score seven times. Four different players scored for Tampa Bay in the loss.

Brandon Hagel got the Lightning on the board with his 7th goal of the season, followed by Brayden Point’s 8th, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal in the second period, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th, unassisted, in the third.

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The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways in their 7-4 loss to the Jets.

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

If you’re looking for a straight moneyline bet, then the Lightning are the way to go. However, with a payout of -257, you might consider using this bet as a leg of a parlay.

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

Lightning Battle Injuries as They Host Blue Jackets in Rematch

The Tampa Bay Lightning return home Tuesday night to face the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second meeting of the season between the two Eastern Conference teams. After an injury-plagued road trip, Tampa Bay looks to overcome its challenges and keep momentum rolling, while Columbus searches for consistency after back-to-back losses.

Lightning Overcome Adversity on the Road

Tampa Bay (16-11-3) wrapped up a successful 3-1-0 Western road trip, securing wins over Vancouver, Calgary, and Seattle while falling narrowly to Edmonton (2-1). Despite the victories, the trip was marred by injuries to key players:

• Anthony Cirelli (12 goals, 15 assists) and Erik Cernak missed time after sustaining injuries mid-trip.
• Victor Hedman (four goals, 21 assists) sat out the final two games.
• Defenseman J.J. Moser was placed on injured reserve and is out until at least Dec. 22.

Head coach Jon Cooper praised the team’s defensive effort as they weathered the injury bug:

“We defended. We can score enough, but you have to defend. … We made them go through all five of us all the time.”

Despite the absences, Tampa Bay’s offense remained potent, outscoring opponents 18-8 during the trip. Forward Jake Guentzel has been on fire, scoring in six straight games, tying Cirelli for the team’s longest streak of the season.

Meanwhile, Nikita Kucherov has been unstoppable, extending his point streak to seven games with 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) during that stretch. Brayden Point has been just as productive, tallying four goals and 11 assists in his own five-game point streak.

Now back at Amalie Arena for five of their next six games, the Lightning aim to tighten up their defense while continuing their offensive surge.

Blue Jackets Struggling to Regain Form

Columbus (9-16-6) enters this matchup on the heels of two straight losses, including a 4-1 defeat at Carolina on Sunday. It was the Blue Jackets’ third game in four nights, and their offensive struggles continued as they went 0-for-5 on the power play and allowed a shorthanded goal.

Head coach Dean Evason lamented the missed opportunities but saw some positive energy from his team:

“Obviously, we played (Saturday), but we had some jump, we had some life. … A couple of breaks go our way earlier, I think it could have been a different game.”

The Blue Jackets made adjustments to their forward lines in Carolina, promoting rookie center Adam Fantilli to the second line alongside Dmitri Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko. The move paid immediate dividends, as Marchenko assisted on Voronkov’s lone goal—his eighth of the season.

Marchenko has been one of the few bright spots for Columbus, leading the team with 11 goals and adding 18 assists through 31 games. Defenseman Zach Werenski, meanwhile, remains the driving force offensively, leading the team with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists), including 22 points in his last 18 games. Werenski’s ability to produce from the blue line has been critical, making him the first NHL defenseman this season to reach double-digit goals.

Last Meeting: Jackets Stunned Lightning

The first matchup between these teams on Nov. 21 was a wild one. Columbus overcame a 3-0 deficit in the opening 12 minutes and eventually claimed a 7-6 overtime victory, capped by Werenski’s game-winner. It was one of the Jackets’ most impressive comebacks of the season.

Key Matchup: Tampa Bay’s Firepower vs. Columbus’ Special Teams

Tampa Bay’s offense has been scorching hot, led by Kucherov, Point, and Guentzel, all of whom are thriving despite injuries to key players. Columbus, on the other hand, must tighten up defensively and improve its power play, which has struggled and cost them in recent games.

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The Blue Jackets’ success will hinge on slowing down Tampa Bay’s transition game while capitalizing on their own man-advantage opportunities.

What’s at Stake

For the Lightning, Tuesday marks the start of a crucial stretch at home where they can solidify their position in the Atlantic Division. Overcoming injuries and building on their road trip success will be key.

For the Blue Jackets, a win would provide a much-needed confidence boost as they try to snap out of their recent 1-5-2 slide and find consistency heading into the holiday stretch.

The Bottom Line

Tampa Bay enters as the clear favorite, even with their injury concerns, thanks to their lethal offense and home-ice advantage. Columbus will need a near-perfect effort—led by Werenski and Marchenko—to slow down the Lightning’s high-octane attack.

Will the Blue Jackets pull off another surprise like they did in November, or will Tampa Bay’s stars rise to the occasion and keep the momentum rolling at home? Tuesday night will tell the story.