Tampa Bay (44-25-5) at Ottawa (39-29-6)
- When: Apr 3 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON, CAN
- TV: FDSSUN
Lightning vs Senators Preview & Prediction
Moneyline Favorite: Tampa Bay -147 | Total: 6.0 Goals
The Tampa Bay Lightning are aiming to stay hot and finish strong as they gear up for a Thursday night matchup in Ottawa against a Senators team they could easily see again in the playoffs. With Tampa Bay sitting as a -147 moneyline favorite and the total set at 6.0 goals, this divisional clash has high postseason implications.
Tampa Bay Lightning Outlook
Riding a 7-2-1 surge over their last 10 games, the Lightning (44-25-5, 93 points) are peaking at just the right time. They’re second in the Atlantic Division, just one point behind Toronto and one ahead of Florida, with home-ice advantage and division supremacy on the line. Coach Jon Cooper’s group has already won two of three games against Ottawa this season, including back-to-back playoff-style wins in January.
Tampa Bay has tightened up defensively and is showing offensive balance across the board. Nikita Kucherov is dialed in with a nine-game point streak (5G, 14A), while Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point continue to share the team lead in goals.
This is a statement spot for Tampa, and they’ll look to use their top-tier experience and depth to dictate the tempo. With momentum on their side, the Lightning will be tough to slow down.
Ottawa Senators Outlook
The Senators (39-29-6, 84 points) are clinging to the East’s first wild-card position but are trending in the wrong direction. A 5-2 home loss to Buffalo on Tuesday extended their funk and exposed ongoing struggles on special teams and in net. They’ve now been swept by the Sabres this season, getting outscored 17-5 across four games.
Injuries are also a concern — captain Brady Tkachuk missed the Buffalo game with an upper-body injury, and his status is uncertain. Forward Drake Batherson was a team-worst -5 on Tuesday, and the club’s power play failed to convert in three early chances, giving the opposition momentum instead.
Coach Travis Green acknowledged a lack of urgency and energy from his squad — not exactly a promising sign with a red-hot Lightning team coming to town.
Betting Prediction
Tampa Bay’s veteran leadership and playoff poise are proving critical down the stretch, while Ottawa’s inconsistencies and injury setbacks make it hard to trust them in big spots. The Lightning’s offensive firepower, especially with Kucherov leading the charge, should be enough to outpace an undermanned Senators team.
Picks:
Side: Take the Lightning -147 on the moneyline
Total: Lean Under 6.0, especially if Ottawa is missing Tkachuk and struggling to convert on the power play
Score Prediction: Lightning 3, Senators 2
Tampa Bay gets revenge for that October loss in Ottawa and keeps pace in the heated Atlantic race.
- NHL Odds source: MYBookie Sportsbook
