The Tampa Bay Lightning are in unfamiliar territory tonight when they face off vs the Chicago Blackhawks. Losers of three straight, the Bolts hadn’t lost more than two games in a row all season before this streak and now have to regroup at the United Center to get back in the win column. Despite the losses, Tampa opened as a slight favorite to get the W in Chi-town.
The Lightning are in the second game of their longest road trip of the season (eight games) but that shouldn’t deter bettors from backing them. Tampa Bay still has the best road record in the league at 14-9 SU and is 4-0 SU in the last four games vs the Blackhawks. But where they’ve fallen short recently is on the offensive end as they’ve only averaged 2.5 goals per game in January, which ranks 21st in the league.
Chicago’s run as a dominant force in the NHL may be coming to a close. The Blackhawks are 2-4 SU in the last six games at home and have dropped to 12th in the Western Conference standings. The ’Hawks are desperately missing starting goaltender Corey Crawford since he went out with injury on December 23 and rank 20th in goals allowed per game since his departure. It would be hard to endorse a Blackhawks moneyline wager for this contest.
The total opened at 6 and an UNDER may be in store for this tilt. The total has gone UNDER in seven of the last nine games in this matchup and in nine of the Blackhawks’ last 11 games at home. And despite the stats of Tampa’s struggles in January, they still rank first in goals per game this season at 3.52.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to back the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning before puck drop in this match found them as -130 moneyline favorites at Sportsbook. They saw an Sportsbook total of 6, according to Sportsbook.
OddsShark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 3.3-2.4 victory for the Blackhawks. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Chicago Blackhawks Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Chicago will face the 31-12-3 Lightning. In totals betting, the Blackhawks are 20-24-2 in OVER/UNDER betting so far this season while the Lightning are 27-19. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Chicago vs Tampa Bay injuries news.
The NHL Power Rankings at OddsShark show the No. 6-rated Lightning taking on the No. 24-rated Blackhawks in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Chicago's No. 12-ranked offense, averaging 3.02 goals per game, against a Lightning defense that ranks No. 3 at 2.63 goals allowed. The Blackhawks power play is averaging 15.48% while the Lightning defense kills off 79.33% of their penalties.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Lightning were a 5-2 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Wild. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Minnesota at +103 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for OVER bettors.
In their last action, Chicago was a 7-3 loser at home against the Islanders. Bettors on New York at +142 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (10) sent OVER bettors home happy as well.
Next Betting Matchups
Tampa Bay at Nashville, Tuesday, January 23
Chicago home to Toronto, Wednesday, January 24