Tampa Bay Lightning vs Nashville Predators: NHL Matchup Preview and Predictions for November 29, 2024

The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators are set to face off on Friday, November 29, 2024, at Bridgestone Arena in a crucial NHL matchup. The Lightning, with a record of 11-8-2, are looking to bounce back from their recent 5-4 loss to the Washington Capitals. In their last game, Brayden Point had a standout performance with a hat trick, but the team’s defense gave up five goals, leading to the defeat.

The Nashville Predators, currently 7-12-4, are also seeking to rebound after a heart-wrenching 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite the loss, the Predators were pleased with their overall performance and are looking to build on that effort. Roman Josi leads the Predators in scoring with 18 points, including five goals and 13 assists.

The Lightning have been the better offensive team, averaging 3.81 goals per game, with Nikita Kucherov leading the way with 12 goals and 21 assists. In contrast, the Predators average only 2.35 goals per game, with their offense ranked 32nd in the league. The Lightning’s defense, however, has been a concern, giving up 3.10 goals per game, which ranks 18th in the league.

Historically, the Lightning have had the upper hand in this matchup, winning seven of their last ten games against the Predators. They are favored to win this game, with many analysts predicting the Lightning to cover the money line due to their strong offensive performance and the Predators’ struggles on defense.

The game is expected to be closely contested, with the sportsbooks indicating a close-run game. The odds for the money line are nearly even, with the Lightning and Predators both at around 1.91. The over/under is set at 6.5 goals, reflecting the potential for a high-scoring game given the teams’ recent trends.