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Tampa Bay Lightning Preview: Key Matchups and Predictions vs. Nashville

By Benjamin Henderson

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 22: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks on in the second period during Game Three of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on April 22, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 22: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks on in the second period during Game Three of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena on April 22, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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It’s like Christmas in October, as hockey season is back, and the Tampa Bay Lightning will take the ice today against the Nashville Predators inside Amalie Arena.

Given it’s the season’s first game, both squads will be trotting out new lines ups, and trying to predict line combinations will be tough, but here is a rough idea of what to expect this afternoon.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Welcome Back

  • When – 5:30
  • Where – Amalie Arena
  • TV – ESPN/ESPN+
  • Radio – 102.5 The Bone

We previewed earlier today all the new pieces that the Lightning will be trotting out today. Most notable for the Tampa Bay Lightning will be what their forward lines actually look like. The preseason is what it is; we saw a handful of combinations.

In the final game against Florida, Tampa had Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point, and Nikita Kucherov together. Yesterday at practice, the Bolts swapped out Hagel for Steven Stamkos and paired Hagel with Anthony Cirelli and newcomer Tyler Motte.

Who to watch on Nashville

The big signing for the Predators was Ryan O’Reilly. The former St. Louis Blues member who helped lead them to the Stanley Cup in 2019 was traded to Toronto last season as a rental. He signed a four-year deal with Nashville over the offseason.

The Predators also bring back star defenseman and captain Roman Josi after he led the team last season with 59 points.

Nashville also has former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh. He is coming off a 20-point season and a plus/minus of +12.

Vegas Says

It’s hard to get a read on what either team will have this season. Nashville was a decent team last year and put up 92 points to miss out on the playoffs by three points.

Tampa has a lot of moving parts and question marks with their goaltending.

Vegas has Tampa favored at -160, though that is the lowest of the three games today (Pittsburgh is -250, and the Vegas Golden Knights are -175).

Vegas also envisions a bit higher scoring of a game with the over/under set at 6.5 goals.

90% of the public bets made have been in favor of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Next. Guide to the 2023-24 Tampa Bay Lightning. dark

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