The Tampa Bay Lightning (7-1-1) begin another two-game set against the Nashville Predators (5-6-0) Monday with an 8 p.m. ET puck drop. This mini-series is being played in Music City after the Lightning swept a two-game set in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. Below, we analyze the Lightning-Predators NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Lightning at Predators: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:22 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Lightning -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Predators +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread/ATS: Lightning -1.5 (+165) | Predators +1.5 (-200)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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A pair of teams from the Central Division take the ice in the Music City in search of a victory. The Tampa Bay Lightning is on the road as they travel to face the Nashville Predators Monday night. Tampa Bay comes in off a 3-1 road victory over Detroit in their previous contest Friday night. Nashville was edged 2-1 on the road by Florida in their previous contest on Friday night. The teams met twice in Tampa last week with the Lightning prevailing 4-3 on January 30 and then following that up with a 5-2 victory on February 1 in the most recent matchup between the teams.
Lightning at Predators: Projected starting goalies
Curtis McElhinney (2019-20 stats: 8-7-3, .906 SV%, 2.89 GAA) vs. Juuse Saros (3-3-0, .893 SV%, 3.31 GAA)
McElhinney will relieve starter Andrei Vasilevskiy for the first time this season. The veteran journeyman had an adequate season while making 18 starts as the Lightning’s No. 2 ‘tender last year, but there’s certainly a dropoff from Vasilevskiy.
Saros played one of the games against the Lightning in Tampa and allowed 4 goals on 27 shots in the loss. He started against the Florida Panthers Thursday but was pulled early after allowing 5 goals on just 24 shots. The Preds won 6-5 in overtime, but veteran G Pekka Rinne was credited with the win while stopping all 12 shots he faced in 22:53 of crease time.
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Lightning at Predators: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Predators 3, Lightning 1
Money line (ML)
The PREDATORS (+135) are worth a small investment for the upset victory on home ice. The first head-to-head meeting this season ended in a 4-3 victory for the Lightning, and the Preds will have a much easier time scoring against McElhinney.
The teams rank similarly in Corsi For percentage and percentage of scoring chances at 5-on-5 for the season. Nashville gave up more shot attempts but had more of the full-strength scoring chances in the first head-to-head contest.
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Against the spread (ATS)
It’s a little steep, but the PREDATORS +1.5 (-200) can also be backed with 1 goal of insurance in the event of a loss. Saros should come out with a better performance after several days of rest.
The Lightning won each of their last three games by 2 or more goals, but they had gone 2-1-1 in their previous four outings with both victories, including one over the Preds, decided by just a single goal.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-120) is the best play in this game. Both power-play units are in the bottom half of the league and both teams are in the bottom half in total goals per game.
The teams are a combined 10-9 against the Over/Under.
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