Lightning Favored Without Vasilevskiy in NHL Season Opener

The Tampa Bay Lightning are favored on the puck line with +155 odds to cover against the Nashville Predators.
Three of their last four meetings at Amalie Arena went over 6.5 goals.
Tampa Bay won 11 of their last 13 games against Nashville since 2019.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – The Nashville Predators are +135 road underdogs against the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2023-2024 NHL season opener. There are -115 odds favoring the 6.5-goal total to go under on Tuesday night.

Tampa Bay is the legal sports betting favorite based on their recent dominance against Nashville. The Lightning beat the Predators in four straight meetings by an average of 2.25 goals.

Tampa Bay Lightning Vs Nashville Predators Betting Lines

Team	Puck Line	Moneyline	Total
Nashville Predators	+1.5 (-180)	+135	O6.5 (-105)
Tampa Bay Lightning	-1.5 (+155)	-160	U6.5 (-115)

There are +155 odds at legal NHL betting sites for the Lightning to cover the puck line for a third straight game at home. The over hit in three of the last four home games against the Predators, but the 6.5-goal total is favored to go under with -115 odds.

Questionable Goalie Play Favors Over 6.5 Goals (-105)

Predators’ goaltender Juuse Saros was terrific in the 2022-2023 NHL season, posting a .919 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average (GAA) on 2099 shots. However, he had a 3.99 GAA and a .889 save percentage in two starts against the Lightning last season.

He was even worse in the 2021-2022 season with a 5.39 GAA and two losses against the Lightning. Adding center Ryan O’Reilly and an offensive-minded coach in Andrew Brunette should help the Predators keep up with the Lightning’s scoring.

Tampa Bay will rely on Jonas Johansson in the net with Andrei Vasilevskiy out for at least six weeks. Johansson only recorded three appearances and two starts last season.

Uncertainty with both teams goalies makes the -105 legal Florida sports betting odds for over 6.5 goals the best bet of the game.

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Zachary Kelley

Zach graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Writing, Editing, and Media. Zach is interested in the legalization aspect of sports betting and enjoys participating in DFS. He has a passion for sports writing and most enjoys writing about football and baseball both professional and collegiate.