Lightning vs Senators

Fresh off a four-game win streak, the Tampa Bay Lightning head to Ottawa with playoff seeding well within reach, and the kind of momentum that matters late in the season. While the Sens have won three of their past five, their recent inconsistency—especially in net—has been exposed by more efficient offenses, and Andrei Vasilevskiy is a considerable upgrade over any goaltending Ottawa can throw at the ice right now. The Lightning will still be without Anthony Cirelli (upper body), but their top six remains largely intact, featuring a blistering-hot Brayden Point, who has 10 points in his last five games and historically dominates the Senators with 17 points in his last 11 matchups. Meanwhile, Ottawa misses the physical presence of Artem Zub on the blue line, and if Tim Stützle can’t find his rhythm early, the Sens' offense could stall against Tampa’s disciplined structure. With postseason implications evident and a chance to leap in the Eastern Conference standings, expect the Bolts to come in with a playoff-caliber effort. The odds provide modest value on the road favorite, but considering Tampa's road record and form, this pick gets a B grade — steady, not spectacular, but with a reliable edge. Odds and availability are subject to change.

With Nikita Kucherov riding a six-game point streak and Brayden Point continuing his dominance against Ottawa, the Bolts are peaking at the right time. Tampa Bay enters Thursday's matchup having won four of their last five, while the Senators have lost three of their last four, including a tough OT loss to Buffalo. Ottawa continues to miss key defenseman Jake Sanderson, whose absence leaves a gap the Lightning's top-ranked power play will likely exploit. The Sens’ goaltending woes persist as Joonas Korpisalo has struggled against Tampa historically, posting a sub-.900 save percentage in previous meetings. With both teams chasing playoff positions—Tampa battling for home-ice and Ottawa clinging to a Wild Card hope—the urgency favors the more experienced Lightning. While the +205 payout is tempting, the pick carries moderate risk due to Ottawa's scrappy streakiness at home, which knocks the prediction down to a B grade. Odds and availability are subject to change.