Blue Jackets Vs. Lightning Game 3 Odds: Lightning Favored

• The Columbus Blue Jackets managed to tie the series 1-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 3-1 victory in game 2.
• Sports bettors are expecting the Lighting to bounce back, having -180 odds to win game 3.
• Tampa was second in the Atlantic Division during the regular season.

TAMPA BAY, Fla. – The Game 3 matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning is underway Saturday with the Lighting getting major betting action at online sportsbooks.

Sports bettors are expecting Tampa Bay to bounce back from the 3-1 loss they suffered on Thursday. The Lightning are favored overall to win the series after having a dominant regular season.

The Blue Jackets were a middling team during the regular season, which explains why sports bettors are counting them as long shots.

NHL Playoffs Underway

Those betting on the NHL have not been swayed by the Blue Jackets’ big performance on Thursday, with most of the wagers going in favor of the Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning Vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

• Moneyline: Tampa Bay -180, Columbus +160
• Spread: Tampa Bay -1.5
• Totals: 5.0

Even with struggling in Game 2, the Lightning are still confident heading into Game 3 to come out with a big win. The team plans to focus on their shot selection and getting better looks as opposed to just taking every shot.

“We’re putting up a ton of shots right now…We’ve just got to be a little more violent with our arrivals at the net and I think and not forcing plays and not getting frustrated,” said Blake Coleman, Lightning forward. “We’ve just got to understand it might be a low-scoring series and you might have to win games 2-1 and that’s just the way things are going to be. Most importantly, just staying the course and not getting frustrated when we’re not scoring three, four, five goals a game. Just understanding that our attention to detail defensively is going to be much more important in this series.”

All season the Lightning have played aggressively, outscoring opponents by several goals. This change in approach may be somewhat of an adjustment that sports bettors should focus on.

It is still the safer bet at legal sports betting sites to look at the Lightning, however, as they have been the more consistent team all year and this loss may be a wakeup call for the hockey team.

News tags: Blake Coleman | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | NHL Playoffs | Tampa Bay Lightning