The Columbus Blue Jackets refused to roll over in the wake of a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay in a Game 1 clash that took five overtime periods to decide. The Blue Jackets responded with a 3-1 win in Game 2, and now look to Saturday’s Game 3 matchup with the Lightning as +160 underdogs on the NHL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Blue Jackets overcame an early 1-0 deficit on Thursday, potting three unanswered goals to even this first-round series at a game apiece. However, despite the team’s continued success at frustrating the Tampa Bay offence, Columbus continues to lag as a +225 underdog on the NHL playoff series prices going into Saturday night’s matchup at Scotiabank Arena.
The Lightning’s top-ranked offence has failed to get going so far in the postseason. Set as -180 betting favourites on the Game 3 odds, Tampa Bay has managed to score just five total goals over its past three contests. And despite remaining listed as -275 favourites to eventually win this series, the Lightning are under increasing pressure to avoid early elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the Blue Jackets for a second straight year.
Earlier on Saturday, the Boston Bruins will also be looking to rediscover their offensive touch as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of that series as slim -125 favourites.
The Bruins failed to protect an early 1-0 lead on their way to a 3-2 loss to Carolina on Thursday that left that series knotted at 1-1. Losers in four of their first five contests since play resumed, the Bruins have scored more than two goals in just two of their past nine games.
Conversely, the Hurricanes have been steady so far in postseason action. Carolina rebounded from a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1, and has now won seven of eight overall. However, with just two wins in their last 13 overall meetings with Boston, the Hurricanes lag as +105 underdogs for Saturday’s contest at betting sites.
Elsewhere on the Saturday NHL odds, the Colorado Avalanche take on the Arizona Coyotes as -190 favourites in Game 3 of their first-round series, while the late game has the Vegas Golden Knights battling the Chicago Blackhawks as -210 favourites in their Game 3 matchup. The Golden Knights held on for a 4-3 win over Chicago on Thursday to take a 2-0 series lead.
