Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Game 4: Predictions and Odds

Where: Nationwide Arena – Columbus, OH.

When: Tuesday, April 16, 7PM EST

How (TV/Radio): CNBC, Fox Sports Ohio, SunS | WFAN

Tampa Bay Lightning (Away)

Head Coach: Jon Cooper {All-Time 305-159-44 TBL}

We never thought we’d be here. After starting strong in game one, including a short-handed goal, the Tampa Bay Lightning blew a three-goal lead and let the Blue Jackets steal game one. Game two saw the Bolts fall apart and gift Columbus a 5-1 victory. On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Lightning dropped game three with a score of 3-1. The Stanley Cup favorites now face a first-round elimination Tuesday night.

It doesn’t get any better for the Bolts heading into game four either as star defenseman, who missed game three with an undisclosed injury, is still uncertain for game four. Hedman missed a lot of time towards the end of the regular season with concussion symptoms. The defense core has not been solid for Tampa on the first three games, getting outscored 12-5.

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to start game four for the Bolts. Vasilevskiy went 39-10-4 in the regular season. In the playoffs thus far he is 0-3. He has a 4.06 goals against average in this series and a save percentage of .855.

Columbus Blue Jackets (Home)

Head Coach: John Tortorella {All-Time 622-493-37-105 CBJ, NYR, VAN, TBL}

The Columbus Blue Jackets entered the playoffs as the biggest possible underdog. Now, they head into game four, at home in Columbus, OH., with a 3-0 series lead and could pull off a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning – a team that looked unbeatable for most of the season.

A massive advantage for Columbus in game three was that they gave the Tampa Bay Lightning no powerplay advantages. The Blue Jackets didn’t take a single penalty, something that confounded players and coaches on both teams after the game.

Trade deadline pickup Matt Duchene has been quite the playoff performer for the team during his first playoff appearance. He has two goals and five points in the first three games against Tampa Bay – two of those points coming on the powerplay.

Sergei Bobrovsky is expected in net for the Blue Jackets and he has been shining. Bobrovsky went 37-24-1 in the regular season. He is 3-0 in the playoffs with a goal against average of 1.67 and a save percentage of .941 through the first round.

Series recap (Columbus leads 3-0) – Game one: 4-3 Columbus, Game two: 5-1 Columbus, Game three: 3-1 Columbus

Questions to answer

Will Victor Hedman play game four? Can the defense of Tampa Bay pull things together and contain with Columbus offense?

Can the Tampa Bay Lightning figure out Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky?

Can Columbus’ confidence lead them to a fourth victory in a row and a sweep of the league’s most dangerous regular season team?

Tampa Bay Lightning Injury Report

D Anton Stralman – day-to-day (lower-body)

Columbus Blue Jackets Injury Report

D Ryan Murray – IR (upper-body)

Tampa Bay Lightning at Columbus Blue Jackets Predictions and Odds

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