Key Highlights
- Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues face off at Benchmark International Arena on December 22, 2025.
- The favored Lightning are predicted to win by -1.5 goals with odds of -125, while the over/under is set at 5.5 goals.
- Lightning stats show they rank 12th in league goals scored and fourth in fewest goals against.
- Blues have 94 goals this season but allow an average of 3.4 goals per game, ranking 31st.
NHL Game Preview: Lightning vs Blues
The Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues will clash in a highly anticipated matchup on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. This game promises to be an exciting showdown between two teams with contrasting defensive records.
Lightning’s Offensive Power
The Lightning have been one of the more offensively potent teams this season, ranking 12th in goals scored (3.2 per game). Nikita Kucherov leads the team with 13 goals and 30 assists, while Brandon Hagel is another standout player with 18 goals and 13 assists. The Lightning have also been effective on the power play, converting 16.07% of their opportunities to score.
Blues’ Defensive Struggles
In contrast, the Blues are struggling defensively this season. They allow an average of 3.4 goals per game (125 total) and rank 31st in the league. Pavel Buchnevich is a key player for St. Louis with 5 goals and 19 assists, but their overall defensive performance has been a significant factor in their poor standing.
Betting Insights: Lightning to Win
Based on the current odds, the Tampa Bay Lightning are favored by -1.5 goals at -125, making them strong contenders for victory. Additionally, experts predict that the game will go over 5.5 goals with an Over (5.5) pick and a score prediction of Lightning 4 – Blues 2.
Historical Trends and Predictions
The data indicates that Tampa Bay’s 35 matches this season have finished above the current total of 5.5 goals in 18 instances. Similarly, St. Louis has combined with its opponents to score more than 5.5 goals in 18 out of their 37 games.
Both teams are expected to contribute significantly to the scoring, as they collectively average 5.8 goals per game.
However, it’s worth noting that the league’s 31st-ranked Blues face the 12th-ranked Lightning in terms of offensive capabilities and defense.
The combination of these factors makes this matchup particularly intriguing for both fans and bettors alike. The Lightning’s potent offense and slightly better defensive record suggest they will likely come out on top, but the high-scoring tendencies of both teams make an over prediction highly plausible.
Stay tuned to FOX Sports for live updates and expert analysis as the game unfolds at Benchmark International Arena on Monday evening.
Note: This article was generated using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. For more information, follow your favorite teams on the platform or visit the official NHL website.