Lightning Defeat Blues 4-1 at Home

The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a decisive 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues at the Benchmark International Arena on December 22, 2025. This win extends Tampa Bay's lead in the season series to 2-0, having previously defeated the Blues 3-1 earlier in the season. The Lightning's recent form has shown some inconsistency, with a record of 3-7 in their last ten games, but they managed to snap a losing streak with this win. Their scoring average at home has been 2.9 goals per game while allowing the same number, reflecting a balanced but underwhelming performance at home. In contrast, the Blues have had a slightly better record of 5-5 in their last ten games, averaging 2.5 goals scored and 3.2 goals allowed. This indicates a struggle defensively, particularly in away games where they have allowed more goals.

In terms of injuries, Tampa Bay was missing Pontus Holmberg due to a collarbone injury, which could have impacted their lineup. Despite this setback, the Lightning managed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities effectively. The opening goal came from Holmberg himself, who scored a tip-in goal in the first period, assisted by Darren Raddysh and Zemgus Girgensons. Raddysh would later score again, extending the Lightning's lead to 2-0 with a slap shot.

St. Louis responded in the second period with a goal from Justin Faulk, but the Lightning quickly regained control with another goal from Anthony Cirelli, making it 3-1. The final goal of the match was scored by Oliver Bjorkstrand in the third period, sealing the victory for Tampa Bay.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Lightning as significant favorites at -250 on the moneyline, with a spread of -1.5 and a total set at 5.5 goals. The odds for the over were -115, while the under was priced at -105. This reflects the expectation of a competitive game, although the Lightning's strong home record and recent win would have influenced the odds.

Overall, the game showcased Tampa Bay's ability to capitalize on scoring chances while maintaining a solid defensive effort, which will be crucial as they look to build momentum moving forward in the season.