Lightning vs Blue Jackets Picks and Prediction – 11/22/2024

The Tampa Bay Lightning (10-6-1) travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets (7-9-2) in a pivotal matchup at Nationwide Arena. Tampa Bay enters off a strong 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh, while Columbus rebounded from a tough stretch with a commanding 5-1 win over Boston. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Tampa Bay’s offense has been a steady force this season, ranking 11th in the league with 60 goals. Nikita Kucherov is leading the charge, scoring 15 goals and adding 11 assists for a total of 26 points. The Lightning's shooting efficiency has been excellent, with a 12.9% success rate, ranking third in the NHL. The power play, converting at 18.5%, has room for improvement but remains a threat. However, Nicholas Paul’s absence due to injury could hinder depth.

Defensively, Tampa Bay is solid, allowing just 47 goals, ranking them sixth in the league. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been critical in net, boasting a .919 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average with two shutouts. The penalty kill, operating at 78.2%, leaves some room for improvement against a Columbus power play that has struggled. Maintaining discipline and managing the puck in their own zone will be key to success.

Columbus has shown flashes of offensive potential, tallying 58 goals, with Zach Werenski contributing significantly with four goals and four assists. The power play sits at just 16.3%, which underscores inconsistency on the man advantage. Offensively, Columbus will need more contributions from its second and third lines, especially with key injuries to Kent Johnson and Erik Gudbranson.

Defensively, Columbus has been porous, surrendering 62 goals, ranking 22nd in the league. Elvis Merzlikins has been commendable in goal with a .905 save percentage and 2.72 goals-against average, but will need support from the defense. The penalty kill, ranked 13th at 80.7%, provides a slight edge, but the overall defensive effort will need to be sharper to handle Tampa Bay’s high-scoring forwards.

The Lightning bring a balanced attack and a stingy defense into this matchup. While Columbus has home-ice advantage, Tampa Bay’s superior offensive firepower and goaltending should prevail. Final Score Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning win and cover 4-2.