Lightning vs Blackhawks Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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15 November 2023

Lightning vs Blackhawks Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

With the Lightning in the midst of an ugly losing skid, our latest handicap from Tony Sartori is grabbing the home dog when Connor Bedard and Chicago play host to Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Read more in our Lightning vs. Blackhawks betting picks.

Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning in what should be an entertaining game on Thursday evening.

These teams recently squared off last week in the NHL odds, with Chicago claiming a 5-3 victory on the road. Will the Hawks take care of business once again, or can Tampa Bay enact revenge?

Find out in our free NHL picks for Lightning vs. Blackhawks on Thursday, November 16.

Lightning vs Blackhawks odds

Lightning vs Blackhawks predictions

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been playing some terrible hockey lately, enduring three straight losses and getting shutout in back-to-back contests. One of those losses came against Chicago, a result that I think we will see once again on Thursday.

The offense has been lifeless and has been particularly carried by an unsustainable 30.2% power play. Relying on special teams to score against the Chicago Blackhawks will be difficult considering that they rank in the top half of the league in both penalty minutes and penalty kill percentage.

Additionally, other than the superb play of Connor Bedard, goaltending has been the best part of Chicago’s season. Petr Mrazek is slated to get the nod between the pipes, and he has been excellent.

Through eight appearances in the crease, Mrazek is 4-3 with a .921 SV% and 2.84 GAA. One of those wins came against Tampa, a game in which he stopped 30 of 33 pucks for a .909 SV% en route to the Hawks’ 5-3 win.

Over his past six starts against the Lightning, Mrazek is now 3-2-1 with a .920 SV% and 2.62 GAA. Across the ice, goaltender Jonas Johansson is expected to start in net for the Bolts.

His season has gone far differently than Mrazek’s, posting a 5-4-4 record with a .896 SV% and 3.47 GAA. Johansson was also in net for last week’s contest between these two teams, and he surrendered five goals on 29 shots for a .828 SV%.

Chicago boasts home ice, the better goaltender, and an offense that can keep up with Tampa’s if it stays out of the penalty box. It's worth taking a shot on the Hawks at +160 via FanDuel.

My best bet: Blackhawks moneyline (+160 at FanDuel)

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Lightning vs Blackhawks same-game parlay

Blackhawks ML (+160)

Connor Bedard anytime goalscorer (+160)

If the Blackhawks are to win on Thursday, then there is a high probability that Bedard will be involved in that outcome. He has been, by a very wide margin, the best offensive player for Chicago this season.

Bedard leads the club in goals, points, and shots. The rookie sensation is coming off back-to-back multi-goal games and has now scored at least once in six of Chicago’s past eight games.

Bedard scored twice against Tampa last week, en route to his first four-point game, and he should be able to find the score sheet once again on Thursday.

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Lightning vs Blackhawks moneyline and Over/Under analysis

The Lightning opened as a –194 favorite and remain at that price at the time of writing. I think the market will ultimately push this number down due to how terrible the Bolts have looked over the past few weeks.

That brings us to the total, which opened at 6.5 and has held at that number. One trend to keep in mind is that the Over is 9-4-1 Tampa's last 14 road games.