Tampa Bay (25-18-3) at Chicago (15-28-4)
- When: Jan 24 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: United Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- TV: CHSN
Game Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning are heavy Moneyline favorites (-240) as they prepare to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night, with the total set at 6.5. This game features two teams heading in opposite directions, as Tampa Bay looks to find better results on their road trip while Chicago tries to break free from a season of struggles.
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Lightning might be 0-2 on their current road trip, but their performances have been solid despite the results. Coach Jon Cooper praised the team’s effort in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Montreal, noting they played well enough to earn points but fell short due to a late goal. With a +36 goal differential, the Lightning remain one of the strongest offensive teams in the Eastern Conference, led by Nikita Kucherov, who is riding a 10-game point streak and ranks third in the NHL with 70 points.
Defensively, Tampa Bay has shown resilience, and Darren Raddysh has stepped up with six points (two goals, four assists) in his last five games. Expect Tampa Bay to come out strong against a Blackhawks team that struggles to defend leads and has had difficulty against elite teams this season. The Lightning’s need for a win on this road trip makes them a strong Moneyline play, even at the steep odds.
Why Bet on Chicago?
The Blackhawks, while underdogs, have shown flashes of competitiveness recently. They’ve earned points in three straight games (1-0-2), including a 4-3 overtime loss to Carolina on Monday. Connor Bedard continues to impress with 41 points in 47 games, and Tyler Bertuzzi leads the team in goals with 17. Chicago has shown improvement in protecting leads, with interim coach Anders Sorensen emphasizing a more aggressive forechecking style.
However, the Blackhawks’ lack of consistency has been their Achilles’ heel all season, with four losing streaks of four or more games. Their defensive struggles could be exposed by Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense, making it tough for Chicago to pull off an upset here.
Betting Trends and Predictions
Tampa Bay: The Lightning are 5-1 in their last six games against teams with a losing record, making them reliable against weaker opponents.
Chicago: The Blackhawks are 1-4 in their last five games following an overtime loss, showing a tendency to struggle in back-to-back games.
Total Trends: The over has hit in four of Tampa Bay’s last six road games, but Chicago has stayed under the total in six of their last nine.
Prediction: Tampa Bay has the edge in firepower and is motivated to bounce back after two close losses. The Blackhawks’ recent form is encouraging, but it’s hard to see them keeping pace with the Lightning over 60 minutes. Expect Tampa Bay to take control early and secure a comfortable victory.
Final Score Prediction: Tampa Bay 5, Chicago 2. Bet on the Lightning to cover the puck line (-1.5) and consider the over 6.5, as Tampa Bay’s offense should thrive against Chicago’s shaky defense.
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
