Nashville Predators vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions November 29th 2024

Nashville Predators vs Tampa Bay Lightning November 29th 2024

Planning on watching today’s Lightning and Predators game? Catch the action at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, as the Predators hosts this showdown at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 6.5 goals, and the Predators are favored by -1.5 against the Lightning.

Tampa Bay vs. Nashville Key Information

Tampa Bay’s defense faltered in a 7-4 road loss to the Jets, dropping the Lightning to 11-8-2. The total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals. Tampa Bay, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover in the loss.

The Lightning initially held a 2-0 lead, but the Jets responded with seven of the next nine goals. Four different players scored for Tampa Bay in the game.

Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for Tampa Bay, netting his 7th goal of the season. Brayden Point followed with his 8th goal, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov scored his 10th, unassisted in the third period.

The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They finished with 4 assists in the game.

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Defensively, the Lightning struggled late, surrendering four goals in the 3rd period, including two empty-netters, leading to a 7-4 loss to the Jets. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage. Tampa Bay’s defense also recorded 16 hits and 6 takeaways.

Nashville improved to 7-13-4 with a 5-2 win over the Avalanche. The Predators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 7 goals went over the 6.5 goal line.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second period, Nashville responded with five unanswered goals. Five different players scored for the Predators in the game.

Nashville’s offense was held scoreless in the first period but found the net five times in their 5-2 win over Colorado. The Predators had 25 shots on goal and scored twice on power plays. Gustav Nyquist added his 4th goal of the season on an empty net, while Filip Forsberg netted his 7th, also on an empty net.

Roman Josi scored his first goal of the season, while Steven Stamkos picked up his 2nd goal, also on a power play. Colton Sissons got on the board with his 1st goal of the year. Nashville recorded 15 giveaways and had 7 assists on their 5 goals.

Juuse Saros made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage, helping the Predators to a 5-2 win over the Avalanche. Defensively, Nashville finished with 4 takeaways and 23 hits. The Predators’ defense did allow the first goal 2:54 into the 2nd period and another at 17:43 in the 3rd, making it 3-2.

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Predators to pick up on a win over the Lightning at home. With the moneyline sitting at -112, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Predators straight-up.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Lightning to cover. Even if the Predators secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Lightning should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Lightning and Predators Seek Redemption After Blown Leads

The Nashville Predators host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Black Friday in a rematch where both teams aim to rebound from disappointing losses. Each squad let third-period leads slip away on Wednesday, adding urgency to their upcoming clash.

Predators: Struggling to Close Out Games

Nashville (10-10-3) has endured a challenging November, winning just four of 13 games (4-6-3). The latest setback was a gut-wrenching 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

Missed Opportunities Against Philadelphia

The Predators appeared poised for victory, holding a 2-1 lead in the final seconds with the Flyers’ net empty. However, Morgan Frost scored the tying goal with just 12 seconds left, and Sean Couturier sealed the deal in overtime with another close-range chip shot.

“We’ve developed some resiliency, but we’ve had too many of these kinds of games,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “The devil is in the details, and we missed a few details. It’ll be a big test on Friday.”

Defensive Adjustments

The Predators are adjusting to injuries on defense, with Jeremy Lauzon sidelined. Nashville called up defensemen Adam Wilsby and Nick Blankenburg from their AHL affiliate, and both made positive impressions in Wednesday’s game.
“I thought (Wilsby) had really good mobility and was firm on the puck in his battles,” Brunette said.

Lightning: Point’s Hat Trick Overshadowed by Loss

Tampa Bay (12-9-2) has been inconsistent of late, dropping three of its last four games (1-2-1). On Wednesday, the Lightning’s inability to hold multiple one-goal leads against the Washington Capitals resulted in a 5-4 loss.

Costly Third Period

After taking a 4-3 lead early in the third period, the Lightning allowed two unanswered goals, including a power-play tally by Tom Wilson with 3:26 remaining. The game was decided during a 4-minute Capitals power play following a high-sticking penalty on Anthony Cirelli.

Coach Jon Cooper was critical of the circumstances that led to the penalty, particularly an offside play that wasn’t called:
“It’s tough, but it’s the way the rules are. … In the end, you’ve got to kill it off, and we didn’t kill it off.”

Brayden Point’s Hat Trick

Brayden Point registered the fifth hat trick of his career, though his third goal was unconventional. Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren accidentally backhanded the puck into his own net, with Point being the last Lightning player to touch it.

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Key Matchups to Watch

1. Brayden Point vs. Juuse Saros: Point is coming off a three-goal performance, and Saros will need to be at his best to keep Tampa Bay’s top scorer in check.
2. Nashville’s Defense vs. Lightning’s First-Period Offense: Tampa Bay has been explosive in opening periods recently, and Nashville must tighten its defense early to avoid playing from behind.
3. Special Teams Battle: Tampa Bay’s power play ranks among the league’s best, while Nashville will look to improve its penalty kill after recent struggles.
4. Goaltending Duel: Both teams rely heavily on their goaltenders. Saros and Jonas Johansson (likely in net for Tampa Bay) will be under pressure to deliver strong performances.

Previous Meeting

The Lightning edged the Predators 3-2 in overtime during their first meeting this season on Oct. 28. That game highlighted the evenly matched nature of these teams, with Tampa Bay capitalizing on key moments to secure the win.

The Bigger Picture

Both teams are eager to shake off the sting of recent losses and build momentum as they approach the halfway point of the season. For Nashville, improving late-game execution is critical, while Tampa Bay will aim to avoid defensive lapses and maintain their early-game intensity.

Can the Predators protect home ice, or will the Lightning strike again to complete the season sweep? Fans can expect an intense, closely contested battle in Music City.