NHL Same Game Parlay Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (1/7)
The NHL is gearing up for a 10-game slate on Tuesday night. As a result, I’ve got plenty of betting markets and matchups to target for my latest NHL Same Game Parlay pick and prediction.
Last week’s NHL SGP between New Jersey and Anaheim lost due to the Ducks’ outright win as home underdogs against the Devils. Under 8.5 total goals cashed easily with a final score of 3-2, but taking New Jersey’s -1.5 puck line odds to boost the value wound up being the losing leg.
Tonight, I’ll be targeting a marquee matchup in the Eastern Conference between the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more NHL free bets and weekly analysis.
Tuesday's NHL SGP: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Carolina Hurricanes (-125) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (+104) | O/U 5.5 (-140/+100)
Under 7.5 Total Goals (-520)
Oddsmakers have set the goal total line to 5.5 between the Hurricanes and Lightning tonight, with juice on the over at -140 odds. Four of the last five head-to-head matchups between Carolina and Tampa Bay has gone under, so I’ll start by buying a couple of goals for insurance at 7.5.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is already confirmed as a starter. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in four of his last five starts, however, it’s only resulted in a 2-3 record for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have lost four consecutive games, including all three on their California road trip to start 2025, with losses to the Sharks, Kings, and Ducks.
Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to start for Carolina tonight. He’s been a bit shaky lately, allowing three or more goals in three of his past five starts for the Hurricanes, which is why I’m recommending buying a couple of goals to get started at under 7.5. Neither of these teams have gone over seven total goals in their last four games, especially Carolina, finishing with seven or fewer goals in 14 consecutive games.
Tampa Bay Lightning Moneyline (+104)
I’m going to back the slumping Lightning to win outright during their first home game of 2025. Tampa Bay has a ton of talent on offense but it’s been unable to score more than two goals during any of its losses during their active four-game losing skid.
Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Jake Guentzel are a potent first-line for the Lightning and Guentzel also has a revenge-game narrative working for him against his former team. Brandon Hagel has been great on the second attack line, while the return of Victor Hedman on the defensive line is huge for Tampa Bay.
The Lightning have yet to lose five consecutive games this season and Carolina hasn’t won back-to-back games since mid-December against the Blue Jackets and Islanders. Vasilevskiy is the better goaltender in this matchup and Tampa Bay should be able to score at least three goals against Kochetkov’s volatility in the crease.
Let’s ride with Tampa Bay’s moneyline odds for the second and final leg of tonight’s NHL Same Game Parlay.
NHL SGP (+150)
At +150 odds, my NHL Same Game Parlay is fairly simple. The first leg focuses on the goal total, but I’m buying up two goals to under 7.5 in the alternate total goal betting market. Vasilevskiy is very good and most of these head-to-head matchups between Carolina and Tampa Bay tend to go under the goal total line, so I like this as our first leg quite a bit.
Then, we’re going to back Tampa Bay on home ice to snap their four-game losing slump. The Lightning have plenty of goal scoring talent and a good defense, with a superior veteran goaltender. The Lightning have won four of the last five matchups against Carolina, including earlier this year on the road, finishing with Tampa Bay routing the Hurricanes 4-1.
Let’s enjoy a competitive game that should see the Lightning emerge victorious by the final whistle on Tuesday night.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.