Lightning vs Blue Jackets Odds and Picks – Best Bet for Friday Night
- The Tampa Bay Lightning are -178 road favorites over the Columbus Blue Jackets in their NHL game slated for Friday, October 14
- Tampa Bay is 5-1 straight up and 4-2 against the puckline in the past six games against Columbus
- Read on to see all the best Lightning vs Blue Jackets odds and picks for Friday’s game
Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets got the 2022-23 NHL regular season off to a losing start. Columbus fell 4-1 on the road to the Carolina Hurricanes. Also on the road, Tampa Bay was dropped 3-1 by the New York Rangers.
The Lightning are also favored to spoil the Blue Jackets’ home opener. Tampa Bay is set as a -178 road favorite in the Friday NHL odds.
Lightning vs Blue Jackets Odds
| Team | Puck Line | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -1.5 (+150) | O 6 (-120) | -178 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +1.5 (-178) | U 6 (+100) | +150 |
Odds as of October 13th at Caesars Sportsbook. Claim the Caesars Sportsbook promo code.
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Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm ET on Friday, October 14 at Nationwide Arena. The NHL Network providing broadcast coverage in the USA. Sportsnet is carrying the game in Canada as part of their NHL package.
The Lightning have played in the past three Cup final series. However, Tampa Bay is the sixth betting choice in the Stanley Cup odds at +1300. Columbus is the co-21st choice in this betting market at +6000.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Analysis
Not only did the Lightning lose to the Rangers, but they are also missing two regulars. Both forward Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Zach Bogosian are done for 4-6 months following off-season shoulder surgery.
Oh hi, Ohio 🤭 pic.twitter.com/W2KRdoP2QT
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 13, 2022
Tampa Bay was eighth in the NHL with 385 goals last season, but losing Cirelli (17 goals) and Ondrej Palat (18), who signed with New Jersey, is impacting their offensive depth. The Lightning are also missing Ryan McDonagh, Jan Rutta and Bogosian from last season’s top-six defenders.
Defensive shortcomings were evident in the loss to the Rangers. A perennial contender in the Vezina Trophy odds, Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was busier than normal. He was left to handle 39 shots.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Analysis
Already, the Blue Jackets are dealing with a couple of key ailments. Forward Patrik Laine, who scored the Blue Jackets’ lone goal in their season-opening loss to Carolina, is out 3-4 weeks with a sprained elbow suffered in that game.
#CBJ announce Patrik Laine to injured reserve and expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a sprained elbow.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) October 13, 2022
Center Kent Johnson, the club’s fifth overall pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft, was recalled to fill Laine’s spot on the roster. Laine was second on the team last season with 26 goals. Justin Danforth, who scored 10 goals in 45 games last season as a rookie, is taking Laine’s spot on the Columbus top line.
Lightning vs Blue Jackets Recent Results
| Date | Home-Away | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/28/2022 | CBJ 5 TBL 2 | CBJ | CBJ | Over |
| 04/26/2022 | TBL 4 CBJ 1 | TBL | TBL | Under |
| 01/04/2022 | CBJ 2 TBL 7 | TBL | TBL | Over |
| 04/25/2021 | TBL 4 CBJ 3 (OT) | TBL | CBJ | Over |
| 04/08/2021 | CBJ 4 TBL 6 | TBL | TBL | Over |
Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets #1 goaltender, missed the opener due to illness. That left the goaltending duties in the hands of backup Daniil Tarasov.
Jet Greaves, recalled from AHL Cleveland to serve as standby goalie, was sent down Friday. That should mean Merzlikins is good to go again.
Lightning vs Blue Jackets Pick
The two teams have split the last 10 games at Nationwide Arena 5-5. Columbus won the previous meeting 5-2, but the Blue Jackets haven’t won back-to-back games over the Lightning through the past 18 games between the two clubs. Columbus is 10-5 on the total in the club’s past 15 home games.
Lightning vs Blue Jackets Same-Game Parlay Picks
| Pick | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 6 Goals | -120 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning Puckline -1.5 | +150 |
| PARLAY ODDS | +378 |
The over has hit on the past three games between Columbus and Tampa Bay and in five of the past seven Lightning vs Blue Jackets games and in each of the last five games they’ve played at Columbus. Tampa Bay is 5-1 straight up and 4-2 against the puckline over the past six games against Columbus.
Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning puckline -1.5 (+150).
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An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
