Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction NHL Picks 11/21/24

In this article, we will formulate a Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, November 21st at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup. 

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning are 10-6-1 this year after they defeated Pittsburgh in overtime by a score of 3-2 in their last game. Tampa Bay trailed 2-0 in the third period, but they were able to force overtime and got the win in OT. The Lightning outshot Pittsburgh by a total of 35-19, won 59.2% of the face-offs, and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Tampa Bay got goals from Cirelli and Point (2), while Vasilevskiy stopped 17 out of 19 shots in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Lightning defeated New Jersey by a score of 4-0 and Winnipeg by a score of 4-1. Tampa Bay has scored 3.53 goals per game and they have allowed 2.77 goals against per game, while also going 18.5% on the power play and 78.2% on the penalty kill this season. Nikita Kucherov has led TB with 11 goals, 15 assists, and 65 shots on goal, while Andrei Vasilevskiy is 9-5-1 with a 2.15 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. 

Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are 7-9-2 this season after they defeated Boston by a score of 5-1 in their last game. Columbus scored the first three goals in the game and pulled away in the third for the win. The Blue Jackets were outshot by a total of 29-28, won 50.8% of the face-offs, and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Columbus got goals from Chinakhov, Danforth, Olivier, Voronkov, and van Riemsdyk, while Merzlikins stopped 28 out of 29 shots in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Blue Jackets lost to Montreal by a score of 5-1 but did beat Pittsburgh by a score of 6-2 before that. Columbus has scored 3.22 goals per game and they have allowed 3.44 goals against per game, while also going 16.3% on the power play and 80.7% on the penalty kill this season. Kirill Marchenko has led Columbus with six goals, 10 assists, and 44 shots on goal, while Elvis Merzlikins is 4-5-1 with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage this year. 

Why the Lightning will beat the Blue Jackets

• The Blue Jackets have lost 10 of their last 11 games following a road win.
• The Lightning have won five of their last six games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Lightning have covered the puck line in five of their last six games as favorites against the Blue Jackets.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Lightning’s last four games against Metropolitan Division opponents has gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak has gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last 16 home games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in 16 of the Lightning’s last 17 games against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts

• Cole Sillinger has recorded a point in each of the Blue Jackets’ last six games against Eastern Conference opponents at Nationwide Arena.
• Ivan Provorov has recorded an assist in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games as home underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Kirill Marchenko has scored at least one goal in four of the Blue Jackets’ last five games as underdogs against the Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts

• Jake Guentzel has recorded at least one point in each of his last 12 appearances against the Blue Jackets.
• Victor Hedman has recorded at least one assist in nine of the Lightning’s last 10 games as favorites against the Blue Jackets.
• Brayden Point has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction 

Tampa Bay comes into this game after winning their last three games and they will look to make it four in a row with a win here. The Lightning are 4-5-0 on the road, while the Blue Jackets are 5-3-0 at home this year. Columbus has had plenty of struggles over the last month, but they have won two of their last three games and finally have some momentum. It is good to see the Blue Jackets showing some improvement, but this Tampa Bay defense has allowed a total of three goals in their last three games and will be the difference here. Take the Lightning.