Published Oct 8, 3:32am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 8, 3:32am ET
Credit: AI Generated
Updated Oct 8, 3:55am ET
A fascinating opening night clash at Amalie Arena is set for Friday, as the Tampa Bay Lightning aim to maintain their reputation as one of the most consistent teams in the Eastern Conference.
Jon Cooper's side will have home ice advantage when they welcome an improving Ottawa Senators to Florida. You can find the odds and our picks here.
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|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | -158 |
| Ottawa Senators | +139 |
There have been few more consistent teams in the NHL across recent memory than the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning have successfully secured a playoff berth in each of the last eight seasons.
However, they exited the playoffs in the opening round last term after losing in five games against the Florida Panthers. Cooper has added some proven quality to his roster during the off-season, including Sam O'Reilly from the Edmonton Oilers.
The Lightning have also added Simon Lundmark, Boris Katchouk, and Matt Tomkins.
It would be hard to examine the 2024-25 season as anything but a success story for the Ottawa Senators.
Travis Green led the team to a playoff place for the first time in eight seasons, and last term also marked the first campaign in which the Senators had ended the term with a winning record since 2016-17. Overall, the Senators ended the previous campaign with a 45-30-7 record.
Building on that promise is now the big challenge awaiting the Senators, and they will need to do that despite losing a couple of notable stars. However, the additions of Jordan Spence and Kurtis MacDermid should have a positive impact.
The Lightning were challenging to beat in home games throughout the NHL season last term.
However, it could be worth considering that the Senators have shown excellent progression over the last 12 months. Therefore, the away win could be an interesting angle when making Senators vs. Lightning picks this week.
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Pick
Ottawa Senators (+139)
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