NHL Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning with Line Combinations 3/4/2025

NHL Game Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning with Line Combinations 3/4/2025

Columbus Blue Jackets (30-22-8, 68 Pts) at Tampa Bay Lightning (35-21-4, 74 Pts)

Venue: Amalie Arena
Date: Tuesday, March 4
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/FDSNOH/FDSN SUN
Radio:
Columbus – CBJ Radio App, 93.3 The Bus
Tampa Bay – 102.5 The Bone

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Columbus +1.5 ML +150
Tampa Bay -1.5 ML -180
O/U 6.5

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Columbus Blue Jackets News & Notes:

The Blue Jackets have won four straight most recently winning against the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 on Saturday. In their recent win streak, they’ve averaged 5.25 goals per game while allowing an average of 2.50 goals per game. Adam Fantilli has a five-game point streak recording three goals and three assists in that streak. Boone Jenner has seven points in his first four games of the season all on assists.

Tampa Bay Lightning News & Notes:

The Lightning suffered their first loss in regulation since January 28th last night in a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. The lone goal came from Brayden Point. Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced.

Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lines

Voronkov-Fantilli-Marchenko
Chinakhov-Jenner C. Sillinger-K. Johnson
Ashton-Reese-Danforth-Olivier
Labate-Kuraly-van Riemsdyk

Werenski-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Provorov
Christiansen-Severson

Merzlikins
Tarasov

Columbus Hockey – Inside The Rink

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lines

Guentzel-Point-Kucherov
Hagel-Cirelli-Girgensons
Chaffee-Paul-Goncalves
Eyssimont-Glendening-Perbix

Hedman-Moser
McDonagh-Cernak
Lilleberg-Raddysh

Vasilevskiy
Johansson

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Tampa Bay Hockey – Inside The Rink

Players To Watch:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski this season has 64 points on 18 goals and 46 assists. He’s faced the Lightning 23 times in his career recording 18 points on six goals and 12 assists; in two meetings this season he has five points on two goals and three assists.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Nikita Kucherov this season has 86 points on 27 goals and 59 assists. He’s faced the Blue Jackets 29 times in his career recording 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists; in the two meetings this season he’s recorded four assists.

Injury Report:

Columbus Blue Jackets

C Cole Sillinger – Out
D Erik Gudbranson – IR
C Owen Sillinger – IR
RW Kevin Labanc – IR
C Sean Monahan – IR

Tampa Bay Lightning

None

Next Game

Columbus – March 6 at Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay
– March 6 vs. Buffalo Sabres

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.
  1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing
  2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos
  3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening
  4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time

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