Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Picks, Odds, Predictions 1/21/21
Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets 1/21/21: NHL Hockey free preview, analysis, prediction, odds and pick against the spread.
2021-01-21 19:00:00 EDT
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets meet Thursday in NHL action at the Nationwide Arena.
The Tampa Bay Lightning look for another win to build on their quick 2-0 start. The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging five goals per game and are scoring on 28.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay with two goals, Anthony Cirelli has two assists and Brayden Point has nine shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 1.5 goals per game and are killing 71.4 percent of their opponents power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has given up three goals on 60 shots faced.
The Columbus Blue Jackets could use a win here to rebound from a 1-2-1 record. The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging two goals per game and are scoring on zero percent of their power play opportunities. Alexandre Texier leads Columbus with three goals, Michael Del Zotto has three assists and Oliver Bjorkstrand has 13 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.3 goals per game and are killing 88.9 percent of their opponents power plays. Joonas Korpisalo has given up four goals on 71 shots faced and Elvis Merzlikins has allowed eight goals on 60 shots.
The Lightning are 66-30 in their last 96 road games and 46-17 in their last 63 overall. The Blue Jackets are 3-8 in their last 11 home games and 8-21 in their last 29 overall. The over is 3-1-1 in Blue Jackets last 5 home games. The under is 6-2-2 in Blue Jackets last 10 overall. The Lightning are 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Columbus and 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are off to an OK start through four games, but they’ve had issues stringing wins together and have had a tough time getting over the hump against respectable teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the model of consistency in this league and usually beat up on the teams they’re supposed to beat up on. With that said, each of the last five Lightning’s wins over the Blue Jackets were decided by one goal and three of the last six meetings needed overtime. I’ll take my chances with the free goal on the Blue Jackets side.
