Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning - Predictions and Odds

Where: Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL.

When: Wednesday, April 10, 7PM EST

How (TV/Radio): SN 360, TVA, USA, Fox Sports Ohio, SunS | WFAN

Columbus Blue Jackets (Away)

Head Coach: John Tortorella {All-Time 622-493-37-105 CBJ, VAN, NYR, TBL}

They had to scrape and claw their way in, but the Columbus Blue Jackets clinched the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with one game to spare. The Blue Jackets ended the season with a record or 47-31-4, managing to go 7-3-0 in their last ten games and ending on a two-game winning streak.

Offensively this season, Columbus only managed to crack the top-15 in two categories, ranking 12th in goals for and tenth in shooting percentage. They had a strong defensive season, however, ranking 11th in goals allowed, seventh in fewest shots against, and second in both fewest penalty minutes and penalty kill percentage. That being said, remember- they are going up against the juggernaut that is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Starting goalie and Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to get the start for this game, and most likely the whole series. Bobrovsky finished with a 37-24-1 record. He has a goals against average of 2.58, a save percentage of .913, and an incredible nine shutouts.

Tampa Bay Lightning (Home)

Head Coach: Jon Cooper {All-Time 305-159-44 TBL}

There is only one x-factor heading into game one for the Tampa Bay Lightning – will defenseman Victor Hedman be available to play. Hedman is still listed as day-to-day and it has not yet been confirmed whether he will or will not play game on against Columbus. Other than that, the Bolts should be firing on all cylinders and pick up exactly where their regular season left off.

Tampa ranked first overall in four major categories this season: goals scored, powerplay percentage, faceoff percentage, shooting percentage, and penalty kill percentage. They also have Nikita Kucherov – the highest scoring player this season with 128 points. Tampa Bay has been the overall Stanley Cup favorite almost from day one of the seasons.

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy should get the start for Tampa. He finished the season with an astounding 39-10-4 record in which he compiled a 2.40 goals against average, a .925 save percentage, and six shutouts.

The last regular season game these two teams faced off in was back on February 18, 2019. The Lightning dominated the blue Jackets with a final score of 5-1.

Questions to answer

Although they had a strong defensive showing overall this season, can the Columbus Blue Jackets manage to contain the offense of Tampa Bay? Or will this game have the same outcome as their last – losing to the Bolts 5-1?

With a battle of the goaltenders here, will Bobrovsky’s playoff experience backstop the Blue Jackets to a win?

Can Kucherov’s surging offensive prowess continue through the playoffs or will there be any signs of exhaustion?

Will Victor Hedman play game one?

Columbus Blue Jackets Injury Report

D Adam McQuaid – day-to-day (upper-body)

D Ryan Murray – IR (upper-body)

Tampa Bay Lightning Injury Report

G Louis Domingue – day-to-day (lower-body)

D Victor Hedman – day-to-day (upper-body)

Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning Predictions and Odds

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