Lightning vs Blue Jackets Odds and Picks

Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets got the 2022-23 NHL regular season off to a losing start. Columbus lost 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes and 3-2 to New York Rangers. Tampa Bay is a -178 road favorite in the Friday NHL odds.

The Stanley Cup final is on Friday, October 14 at 7:00 pm ET at Nationwide Arena. The NHL Network is providing broadcast coverage in the USA. Sportsnet is carrying the game in Canada. Tampa Bay is the sixth betting choice in Stanley cup odds at +1300. Columbus is co-21st choice at -6000.

Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Rangers. Anthony Cirelli and Zach Bogosian are out for 4-6 months. Ondrej Palat signed with New Jersey. Ryan McDonagh, Jan Rutta and Bogoansian were the team's top-six defenders last season. Andrei Vasilevskiy was busy in the loss to Rangers, taking 39 shots.

Patrik Laine is out for 3-4 weeks with a sprained elbow. Center Kent Johnson is recalled to fill Lain's spot. Justin Danforth is taking Line's place on the top line.

Elvis Merzlikins missed the opener due to illness. Jet Greaves was called up from the Cleveland to serve as a backup goalie.

The teams have split the last 10 games at Nationwide Arena. Columbus won the previous meeting 5-2. The Blue Jackets haven't won back-to-back games over the Lightning through the past 18 games.

The over has hit on the past three games between Columbus and Tampa Bay and in five of the last seven games. Tampa is 5-1 straight up and 4-2 against the puckline over the next six games against Columbus.