The Columbus Blue Jackets (12-14-5) travel to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning (16-10-2) on Tuesday, December 17th. This game will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa and televised on ESPN+. Both the Blue Jackets and Lightning will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

Blue Jackets vs Lightning

The Columbus Blue Jackets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Columbus dropped to 12-14-5 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled from the start, allowing five goals in the first period. Going into the game, the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 9 goals easily surpassed that mark.

As underdogs on the puck line, Columbus failed to cover. They managed to score their first goal at 19:11 in the second period, when the Capitals already had five goals on the board.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Lightning dropped to 16-10-2 after a 7-4 loss to the Jets. Tampa Bay led 2-0 early, but the defense faltered, allowing seven unanswered goals. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals easily surpassed that mark. Tampa Bay was the underdog on the puck line.

Four different Lightning players scored in the game. They held a 2-0 lead in the first period before the Jets responded with seven straight goals. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled, especially in the third period, where they allowed four goals.

Columbus Offense Breakdown

Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only came away with two in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson netted his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his second. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second.

Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and didn’t convert on any power play opportunities. Adam Fantilli picked up his 4th assist on Severson’s goal, and Sean Monahan’s 5th assist came on Labanc’s second-period goal.

Lightning Offense Breakdown

Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for the Lightning, netting his 7th goal of the season. Brayden Point followed with his 8th goal, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov, who scored the final goal for Tampa Bay, now has 10 goals on the season.

The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They scored twice in the first period, added another in the second, and found the net for the last time with 13:09 left in the third period.

Columbus Team Defense

Columbus’ defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period. After cutting the deficit to 5-1, they conceded another at 15:09 in the second and one more at 1:26 in the third. Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage, while the defense added 10 takeaways and 17 hits.

Tampa Bay Team Defense

Defensively, the Lightning struggled late, giving up two empty-net goals and another at 7:38 in the 3rd period. They also allowed the first two goals of the 2nd period, after leading 2-0 in the 1st. Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage.

Blue Jackets vs Lightning Trends

• Across the Blue Jackets last three road games, the team averaged 2 goals per game while allowing 3. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 1-2, while going 1-2 straight-up.
• Across the Lightning last ten home games, the team averaged 4 goals per game while allowing 2. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 5-5, while going 6-4 straight-up.
• Going back to their previous five games as the underdog, Tampa Bay has an puck line mark of 3-2 while going 2-3 straight up.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the favorite, the Blue Jackets have a straight up record of 6-4. Their record vs the puck line in these games was 5-5.

Blue Jackets vs Lightning Prediction

When it comes to a straight moneyline bet, look no further than the Lightning. Nevertheless, given the payout of -257, you could also think about incorporating this bet into a parlay.

When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Blue Jackets to cover. Even in the event of a Lightning victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Blue Jackets should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.