Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning odds, picks and prediction
The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night in a season-opening battle at Amalie Arena. Puck drop will be at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Blackhawks-Lightning NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Blackhawks at Lightning: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line : Blackhawks +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Lightning -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS : Blackhawks +1.5 (-145) | Lightning -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under : 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Blackhawks at Lightning: Projected starting goalies
Malcolm Subban (9-7-3-0, .890 SV%, 3.17 GAA) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (35-14-3-3, .917 SV%, 2.56 GAA)
Subban has the inside track on being a No. 1 in Chicago, but he could end up in a hot-hand exchange all season with G Collin Delia. Both are behind a Blackhawks defense that yielded more shots on goal (35.1) than any other team a year ago.
Vasilevskiy was solid in the regular season and then tremendous in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. The 26-year-old was a bit better away from home, both in the regular season and in the summer playoffs, and that fits a career trend going back a few years.
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Blackhawks at Lightning: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Tampa Bay 3, Chicago 2
Money line (ML)
The Blackhawks are entering a prospect tryout season of sorts. Captain Jonathan Toews is out with an undisclosed illness. Top-six F Kirby Dach will miss 4-5 months due to a fractured wrist. F Alex Nylander (knee) and F Carl Soderberg (travel visa issues) would be decent veterans to fill in with, but they are also out to start the season. What's left are Ws Patrick Kane, Dominik Kubalik, Alex Debrincat and a slew of question marks.
F Nikita Kucherov (hip) will be sidelined the entire regular season, and that's a big loss for the Lightning. The deeper, more seasoned Bolts can more easily absorb big injuries to veteran talent than can the 'Hawks. Vasilevskiy has a history as a fast starter with sharp early-season efforts.
On a night when the Bolts lift a banner to the rafters of Amalie Arena, TAKE TAMPA BAY (-225).
Against the spread (ATS)
The Lightning (-1.5, +120) are the lean but without much value. A PASS is recommended.
Over/Under (O/U)
Tampa Bay is capable enough at both ends to create too much gray area here but tag the UNDER 6.5 (-120) with a slight lean.
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