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 around the Lightning vs. Hurricanes odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Lightning won 2-1 in 2023-24
The Lighting flew out on Monday from Tampa to leave ahead of Hurricane Milton. The storm struck the Central Florida area, and Saturday’s home opener against the Hurricanes has been postponed to a later date.
The only meeting in Raleigh last season resulted in an 8-2 victory by the Lightning on Nov. 24, 2023. Tampa Bay has won the past 2 trips to Raleigh by a combined 12-2 score, and the underdog has won 4 of the past 6 in the series.
The Lightning lost captain Steven Stamkos to the Nashville Predators, who also saw D Mikhail Sergachev moved to the Utah Hockey Club. The team was able to add F Jake Guentzel in a sign-and-trade with the Hurricanes, and he is likely to get a chilly reception in Raleigh as a result. D Ryan McDonagh will try to fill Sergachev’s shoes.
The Canes lost a lot of talent, with F Teuvo Teravainen departing for Chicago, while Ds Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei also left in free agency. The team added gritty F Jack Roslovic, as well as 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; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 6:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lightning +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Hurricanes -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (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 last season on Nov. 24 after missing time due to a microdiscectomy because of a lumbar disc herniation in his back. He kicked aside 22 of the 24 shots he faced in his only appearance against Carolina, while the offense provided him with 8 goals of support in an easy win.
Andersen missed 4 months last season due to a blood clotting issue. When he was in the lineup, he was one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, posting a 1.84 GAA. He allowed 3 or fewer goals in 15 of his 16 starts, and 2 or fewer goals in 13 of those 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 safe play in this clash against the rival Lightning (+115) in the home opener.
Carolina usually performs well in these regular-season openers, enjoying a little home cooking before hitting the road for an extended road trip during the North Carolina State Fair, which takes up the parking lot at the newly renamed Lenovo Center.
You can’t blame the Lightning for a little bit of a lack of focus following the storm, as their minds could be elsewhere.
Puck line/Against the spread
If you’re a little more adventurous, HURRICANES -1.5 (+180) is worth a play for the chance to nearly double up.
The road team has been much better in this series lately, but Carolina is a strong play at home behind Andersen, as it should be much more focused than the Lightning +1.5 (-225).
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-120) is the lean in this opener for both sides.
While the Over cashed in the only meeting last season in Raleigh, the Under is 3-1-1 in the previous 5 meetings, and 3-1-1 in the past 5 skates in North Carolina, too.
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