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Tampa Bay Lightning vs Vegas Golden Knights Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning aim to close their road trip strong when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. The Lightning are 6-5-2 after a 3-2 loss to Colorado that ended a five-game winning streak.
Vegas enters 7-2-3 after blanking Detroit 1-0 behind Akira Schmid’s 24-save shutout. The Golden Knights are thriving on defense, ranking third in the league in goals against.
Tampa Bay won the first meeting 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 26, when Nikita Kucherov scored the winner. Both teams feature elite scoring depth, but Vegas’ home-ice edge and goaltending rotation could prove decisive.
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Line Movement and Odds
Vegas opened as a -122 favorite and has ticked slightly to -129 on the moneyline. Tampa Bay moved from +102 to +108. The puck line sits at Lightning +1.5 (-236) and Golden Knights -1.5 (+189). The total opened at 6 and remains steady, with the over at -113 and under at -108.
Early public money leans toward Vegas, while sharp bettors have shown mild interest in the Lightning as short road underdogs. Updated lines are available on the NHL scores and odds page
Matchup Breakdown
Tampa Bay Outlook:
The Lightning defense ranks seventh in goals against and 10th in power-play conversion. Brayden Point and Kucherov continue to drive the offense, while Andrei Vasilevskiy remains the backbone in net. Tampa Bay must stay disciplined after five penalties cost them in Colorado.
Vegas Outlook:
The Golden Knights have relied on depth and structure. Jack Eichel leads with 19 points, and Ivan Barbashev provides timely scoring. The team’s puck management at home has been strong, and its penalty kill ranks top-five. Vegas’ puck possession game and defensive support give it a slight edge.
Injuries and Conditions
Tampa Bay Lightning
- Nick Paul (LW) – Out, upper body
Check the full Tampa Bay Lightning injury report
Vegas Golden Knights
- Trevor Connelly (LW) – Out, lower body
- Jakub Demek (C) – Out, undisclosed
- Jordan Gustafson (C) – Out, undisclosed
- Adin Hill (G) – Out, lower body
- Alex Pietrangelo (D) – Out, personal
- Mark Stone (RW) – Out, wrist
Full details on the Vegas Golden Knights injury report
No weather impact is expected in the indoor setting at T-Mobile Arena.
Best Bets and Prediction
Vegas is 80% straight up as a favorite this season, while Tampa Bay has covered in each of its last three as an underdog. The projected final score: Golden Knights 4, Lightning 3.
Best Bet: Vegas moneyline (-129)
Secondary Lean: Over 6 goals (-113)
If you’re planning your wager, review our NHL odds and picks before locking in.
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