The Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-3) and Tampa Bay Lightning (18-13-3) meet Saturday at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Hurricanes vs. Lightning and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Lightning won 2-1
The Hurricanes blew a 3-0 lead in the third period and suffered a 4-3 shootout loss at Florida on Friday, snapping a 5-game win streak. C Sebastian Aho had a pair of goals and C Jordan Staal scored the other. Rookie G Brandon Bussi stopped 38 of 41 shots in the SOL. Carolina is 2-1-1 in 4 games when playing on no rest this season, while splitting the Over-Under 2-2 in those games.
The Lightning suffered a 2-1 home loss against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday as the Under (5.5) cashed in G Andrei Vasilevskiy’s return from an undisclosed injury. Tampa Bay is 0-2-1 in its past 3 games while the Over has a slight 3-2 edge in the Lightning’s past 5 games.
Hurricanes at Lightning odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:55 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Lightning -118 (bet $118 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (+200) | Lightning +1.5 (-250)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Hurricanes at Lightning projected goalies
Pyotr Kochetkov (6-1-0, 1.94 GAA, .912 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (11-7-2, 2.30 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO)
Kochetkov stopped 25 of 26 shots in Wednesday’s win at Nashville, winning for the second straight game and fourth time in 5 starts. He is 2-1-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .894 SV% in 3 starts in December. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in all 7 of his starts and 1 relief appearance.
Vasilevskiy returned after a 2-week absence due to an undisclosed injury, stopping 18 of 20 shots in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Kings. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 8 straight starts since Nov. 15. He is 7-5-0 with a 2.24 GAA and .917 SV% with 1 shutout in 12 starts at home.
Hurricanes at Lightning picks and predictionsPrediction
Hurricanes 3, Lightning 2
HURRICANES (-102) are worth a look as short dogs on the road, as they look to wash the bad taste of Friday’s collapse out of their mouths.
Kochetkov is a strong option to help Carolina bounce back, even though Tampa Bay is stronger with Vasilevskiy back in between the pipes.
Tampa Bay +1.5 (-250) will cost you 2.5 times your potential return, if you require some insurance, and you just cannot bring yourself to taking it straight up.
On the flip side, Carolina has been involved in 4 one-goal games in its past 5 outings, going 3-0-1 in those games.
AVOID.
BACK UNDER 5.5 (-115) but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Under is 5-2 in the past 7 games for Carolina while going 9-3-1 across the Hurricanes’ past 13 outings. In Koochie’s previous 3 starts since Dec. 7, the Under is 2-1, too.
For Tampa, the Under has cashed in 2 of the past 3 outings while holding a slight 6-4 edge in the past 10 games. In Vasilevskiy’s past 8 starts, the Under is 5-2-1, as well.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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