How the public is betting Lightning vs. Blue Jackets first round playoff series

Game 5 update: The Lightning won 5-4 in overtime after Brayden Point scored the series-clincher. Tampa blew a 2-0 lead then came back from a 4-2 third period deficit.

Game 4 update: The Lightning won 2-1 on goals by Yanni Gourde and Barclay Goodrow, while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 of 29 shots.

Game 3 update: The Lightning won 3-2 on goals by Alex Killorn, Brayden Point, and Victor Hedman.

Game 2 update: The Blue Jackets won 3-1 behind 36 saves from Joonas Korpisalo.

Game 1 update: The Lightning won 3-2 when Brayden Point scored the game-winner in the fifth overtime.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets open their first round series on Tuesday as the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway. The series takes place in the Toronto hub city, with the Lightning getting to wear their home jerseys for four of the seven games.

The Lightning are the No. 2 seed after winning two of three round robin games. The Blue Jackets were the 9th seed in the qualifying round and edged out the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games. Tampa Bay enters the series as a -225 favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook against the +185 Blue Jackets. The betting public is backing the Lightning in this one, with 74 percent of the handle and 63 percent of total bets.

Game 1 of the series gets going at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and the public is backing the favored Lightning in a big way. The Lightning are -165 on the money line and are getting 75 percent of handle and 69 percent of bets. They are -1.5 on the puck line and are getting a whopping 82 percent of handle and 58 percent of bets to cover that line. Bettors expect a lower-scoring affair, with under 5.5 total goals getting 61 percent of bets and 59 percent of handle.

The Lightning have the most significant injury news, with defenseman Victor Hedman’s Game 1 status unclear. He suffered a lower-body injury in the final round robin game, and his status will be determined on Tuesday, per reporter Bryan Burns. The Blue Jackets will be without backup goalie Elvis Merzlikins due to injury, but Joonas Korpisalo was already expected to start the series opener.

Here is the Lightning-Blue Jackets series schedule. The Lightning won the series 4-1.

Game 1: Lightning 3, Blue Jackets 2 (5OT)
Game 2: Blue Jackets 3, Lightning 1
Game 3: Lightning 3, Blue Jackets 2
Game 4: Lightning 2, Blue Jackets 1
Game 5: Lightning 5, Blue Jackets 4 (OT)