I don’t care what anyone says, an outdoor hockey game is always special. Even if it’s not the Winter Classic, the 2022 Stadium Series Game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators should be a fun event. It’s Lightning vs. Predators under the lights in Nashville! Let’s get right into the game, including how to watch, storylines for both sides, betting odds, picks, and predictions.
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators: How To Watch, Storylines, Odds, & Picks
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators: How To Watch
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
TV: TNT, SN360, TVAS2
Weather: 42°F, RealFeel 41°F; 19% chance of rain
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators: Storylines
The Lightning are finding their form again after a few hiccups. However, it’s hard to handicap the home-field advantage of Nissan Stadium. The Predators started out the season pretty well but are in risk of missing the playoffs.
This will be the first outdoor game in franchise history for the Lightning, which makes sense given their location. Tampa Bay isn’t exactly the locale you think of when you think of outdoor ice hockey. However, they’re getting their feet wet in Nashville on Saturday night.
This is the second outdoor game in Nashville Predators history. However, it’s the first outdoor game taking place in Nashville. The Predators were the road team in the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. They lost that game 4-2 to the home Stars.
The Lightning, of course, are two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions and are looking for a third. They’re not in a bad position, either, with a 33-11-6 record for 72 points in 50 games so far this season. The Bolts come into the Stadium Series game riding a three-game win streak. They’ve gone 13-5-2 since the holiday break and 3-1-0 since the All-Star break.
The Predators are having a pleasantly surprising season. They’re 30-18-4 for 64 points in 52 games, giving the Preds the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They’ve won back-to-back games, including a shootout victory on Pekka Rinne night on Thursday. Nashville lost its first four games out of the All-Star break, though.
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators: Betting Odds
Moneyline: Lightning -175 | Predators +155
Total: Over 6 -125 | Under 6 +105
Puck Line: Lightning -1.5 (+150) | Predators +1.5 (-180)
Odds via WynnBET
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators: Picks & Predictions
You have to back the Lightning in this one. They are nearly fully healthy with Zach Bogosian and Brent Seabrook the only two players on the injury report. That means they’ll be guns blazing up front with Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, and Nikita Kucherov. Not to mention Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat, Anthony Cirelli, and Corey Perry in support roles in the forward group. Perry has a history with the Preds outdoors. He was ejected after just 39 seconds of ice time in the 2020 Winter classic.
Oh yeah, the Lightning also still have perennial Norris Trophy candidate Victor Hedman anchoring the blue line along with Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan McDonagh. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best in the world between the pipes.
These interconference teams were in the same division last season, so they know each other fairly well. The Lightning went 6-2-0 against the Preds last season, outscoring them 31-21. Five of the games went Over 5.5 goals while three went Under 5.5.
I’m backing the Lightning on the moneyline, and the puck line is a possibility as well. Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 15-9 in its last three games, including its last two wins by 2+ goals. Meanwhile, the Predators’ last three losses were by 2+ goals.
I’m also seeing a relatively high-scoring game. The Lightning have averaged 3.9 goals for and 2.8 against in their last 10, with the Preds at an average of 3-3. This could be a 4-2 or 5-3 win for Tampa Bay.
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators Picks: Lightning -175, Lightning -1.5 (+155), Over 6 (-125)
2022 Stadium Series Lightning vs. Predators: Player Props
Steven Stamkos Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-120)
Stamkos averages 2.8 shots per game, including exactly 3 per game on the road. He had at least three shots in two of his last three, four of his last six, and six of his last nine games. The stars usually shine bright in outdoor games and this is a great spot for Stamkos shots.
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