Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, NHL Odds

Jordan Ramsay | Updated Jan 24, 2025

NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have absolutely dominated the Chicago Blackhawks, winning nine of the last 10 head-to-heads.

Tampa Bay
37-23-3-2
AT
January 24, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
United Center
Chicago
20-37-7-2
Puckline -1.5 +100
Moneyline -250
Over / Under o +4.5
Matchup Odds
Puckline +1.5 -120
Moneyline +210
Over / Under u +4.5
Matchup Odds

Tampa Bay is looking for a ‘get-right’ game after dropping back-to-back decisions in Toronto and Montreal. Fortunately for the Bolts, they’ll be facing a Chicago Blackhawks team that sits tied for dead last in the Western Conference following a 4-3 overtime loss against Carolina on Monday.

The Lightning are -235 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 6.5.

Lightning vs. Blackhawks NHL Betting Odds

The teams split the season series last year, with the road team claiming victory in both games. That broke up a run of eight straight Tampa Bay victories in head-to-head action.

The Bolts have five straight road victories over Chicago, but it’s worth noting they have lost seven of their last eight road dates this season. That likely doesn’t matter much as the Blackhawks have dropped five of their last six games overall and eight of their last 10 against Atlantic Division opponents.

Both teams have nearly identical records against the spread, with Tampa sporting a 24-22 ATS mark and Chicago sitting at 24-23 ATS. A very slim edge goes to the Blackhawks as they are 13-11 ATS at home, while the Lightning are 12-12 ATS on the road.

The Over/Under has split nearly evenly for each team. We could be in for a bit of a higher scoring game on Friday, however, as the Over has hit in five of six for Chicago and four of six for the Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov had the goals for Tampa in a 3-2 loss against Montreal on Tuesday. It pushed Kucherov’s point streak to 10 games, with the Russian now sitting third in NHL scoring at 70 points (22G, 48A). Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 19 of 22 shots faced against the Habs, dropping him to 20-14-2 on the year.

Friday is the first of a back-to-back for the Lightning as they get set to play in Detroit on Saturday, so Vasilevskiy and Jonas Johansson are expected to each get a start. After posting the worst numbers of his career last year, Vasilevskiy has bounced back with a 2.37 goals-against average and .915 save percentage this season. Johansson is 5-4-0 with a 3.27 GAA and .899 SV.

Chicago Blackhawks

Ryan Donato, Philipp Kurashev and Tyler Bertuzzi had the goals for Chicago on Monday, while Petr Mrazek allowed four goals on a season-high 48 shots faced. Connor Bedard was held off the scoresheet for just the second time in his last 14 games. Bedard leads the Blackhawks with 41 points (13G, 28A) in 47 games.

Arvid Soderblom will get the start against Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old is coming off a strong performance against Nashville last Thursday, stopping 39 of 41 shots faced in a 3-2 shootout loss. In 20 appearances this season, Soderblom has a 6-11-2 record with a 2.92 GAA and .907 SV.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Blackhawks?

NHL Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • TB
  • -250 +210
  • CHI
Matchup NHL Odds