Lightning vs. Blackhawks NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Jan. 23

Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a victory, heading into their matchup at United Center on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Lightning (-298) at Blackhawks (+240) appears like a mismatch, according to the moneyline odds.

Tampa Bay earned a 4-1 home victory against the San Jose Sharks in its last game on Jan. 20. Nikita Kucherov (three assists) and Brandon Hagel (two goals and one assist) both had three points for the Lightning.

Chicago won 4-3 in a shootout in its most recent game on Jan. 22 on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes, winning the shootout 2-1 to grab the victory. Ilya Mikheyev led the Blackhawks with two points (one goal and one assist) in that matchup.

Here is our pick for who will clinch the victory in Friday's matchup.

Lightning vs. Blackhawks Predictions & Pick

For the upcoming game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks, computer-calculated moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, based on data from Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Lightning 3 - Blackhawks 1
• Pick OU: Under 6.5 (Dunkel projecting 4.07 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Lightning vs. Blackhawks Moneylines

Grab a look below at the most up-to-date moneylines for the Lightning-Blackhawks game.

• Favorite: Lightning (-298)
• Underdog: Blackhawks (+240)

Lightning Betting Insights

• The Lightning are 24-14 this season when listed as a moneyline favorite.
• Tampa Bay has been a moneyline favorite of -298 or shorter in only two games this season, and split them 1-1.
• The Lightning have a 74.9% chance (based on the moneyline's implied probability) to win this contest.
• Tampa Bay and its opponent have gone over 6.5 combined goals in 20 of 48 games this season.

Blackhawks Betting Insights

• This season the Blackhawks have won 21 of the 47 games, or 44.7%, in which they've been an underdog.
• Chicago has entered three games this season as the underdog by +240 or more and won each of those games.
• The implied probability of a win by the Blackhawks, based on the moneyline, is 29.4%.
• Chicago has played 20 games this season that finished with over 6.5 goals.

Lightning Key Stats

• Tampa Bay's 168 total goals (3.5 per game) rank fifth in the league.
• The Lightning have given up 119 total goals (only 2.5 per game), the second-fewest in NHL action.
• It has the league's second-best goal differential at +49.
• The 30 power-play goals the Lightning have scored this season (on 150 power-play chances) rank 16th in the NHL.
• Tampa Bay's 20% power-play conversion rate ranks 16th in the league.
• The three shorthanded goals the Lightning have scored this season rank 18th among NHL squads.
• Tampa Bay has the league's third-best penalty-kill percentage (84.21%).
• Tampa Bay has the 31st-ranked faceoff win rate in the NHL, at 46.1%.
• The Lightning have a 12.8% shooting percentage as a team, which ranks second in the league.

Blackhawks Key Stats

• With 136 goals (2.7 per game), Chicago has the league's 25th-ranked offense.
• The Blackhawks' total of 154 goals conceded (3.1 per game) is 17th in the NHL.
• Its -18 goal differential ranks 24th in the league.
• The Blackhawks have 30 power-play goals (on 140 chances), 16th in the NHL.
• Chicago's power-play percentage (21.43) puts the team 12th in the league.
• In terms of shorthanded goals, the Blackhawks have four.
• The 85% penalty-kill percentage of Chicago is the best in the league.
• At 47.2%, Chicago has the league's 26th-ranked faceoff win percentage.
• The Blackhawks' 10.8% shooting percentage is 20th in the league.