The Tampa Bay Lightning meet the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on Friday to open their 2024-25 seasons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+/hulu). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds across the Lightning vs. Hurricanes odds and make our knowledgeable NHL picks and predictions.
Season collection: First assembly; Lightning gained 2-1 in 2023-24
The Lighting flew out on Monday from Tampa to go away forward of Hurricane Milton. The storm struck the Central Florida space, and Saturday’s dwelling opener towards the Hurricanes has been postponed to a later date.
The solely assembly in Raleigh final season resulted in an 8-2 victory by the Lightning on Nov. 24, 2023. Tampa Bay has gained the previous 2 journeys to Raleigh by a mixed 12-2 rating, and the underdog has gained 4 of the previous 6 within the collection.
The Lightning misplaced captain Steven Stamkos to the Nashville Predators, who additionally noticed D Mikhail Sergachev moved to the Utah Hockey Club. The crew was in a position so as to add F Jake Guentzel in a sign-and-trade with the Hurricanes, and he's more likely to get a cold reception in Raleigh in consequence. D Ryan McDonagh will attempt to fill Sergachev’s footwear.
The Canes misplaced a whole lot of expertise, with F Teuvo Teravainen departing for Chicago, whereas Ds Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei additionally left in free company. The crew added gritty F Jack Roslovic, in addition to Ds Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker to fill some voids on the blueline.
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Lightning at Hurricanes odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; entry USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full record of NHL odds. Lines final up to date at 6:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lightning +115 (wager $100 to win $115) | Hurricanes -135 (wager $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the unfold (ATS): Lightning +1.5 (-225) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+180)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Lightning at Hurricanes projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (30-20-2, 2.90 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO in 2023-24) vs. Fredrik Andersen (13-2-0, 1.84 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO in 2023-24) vs.
Vasilevskiy made his season debut in Raleigh final season on Nov. 24 after lacking time as a consequence of a microdiscectomy due to a lumbar disc herniation in his again. He kicked apart 22 of the 24 photographs he confronted in his solely look towards Carolina, whereas the offense supplied him with 8 objectives of assist in a simple win.
Andersen missed 4 months final season as a consequence of a blood clotting challenge. When he was within the lineup, he was among the finest goaltenders within the NHL, posting a 1.84 GAA. He allowed 3 or fewer objectives in 15 of his 16 begins, and 2 or fewer objectives in 13 of these outings. Andersen didn’t face Tampa Bay in 2023-24.
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Lightning at Hurricanes picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 4, Lightning 2
Moneyline
The HURRICANES (-135) are a secure play on this conflict towards the rival Lightning (+115) within the dwelling opener.
Carolina often performs properly in these regular-season openers, having fun with a bit of dwelling cooking earlier than hitting the highway for an prolonged highway journey throughout the North Carolina State Fair, which takes up the car parking zone on the newly renamed Lenovo Center.
You can’t blame the Lightning for a bit of little bit of an absence of focus following the storm, as their minds might be elsewhere.
Puck line/Against the unfold
If you’re a bit of extra adventurous, HURRICANES -1.5 (+180) is price a play for the possibility to almost double up.
The highway crew has been significantly better on this collection currently, however Carolina is a powerful play at dwelling behind Andersen, correctly rather more centered than the Lightning +1.5 (-225).
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-120) is the lean on this opener for either side.
While the Over cashed in the one assembly final season in Raleigh, the Under is 3-1-1 within the earlier 5 conferences, and 3-1-1 previously 5 skates in North Carolina, too.
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