Midway through the 2024-25 hockey calendar, Bolts writers Benjamin Pierce and Thompson Brandes get together to hand out trophies to the players and memorable moments of the first half of the season. Some accolades will be real—awarded to the memorable performances and milestones of note.

PM ET in Friday’s contest between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks, here are the best bets you should be considering, whether you’re wanting to make a single wager or have your sights set on putting together a parlay.

THROUGH GAMES OF THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2025

The Tampa Bay Lightning (28-15-6) are set to take on the Chicago Blackhawks (14-29-4) on Friday night at the United Center in Chicago. This matchup pits one of the league’s perennial contenders against a team deep in rebuild mode.

Expect showers on Wednesday morning with chilly temperatures. Highs will only reach the low 50s around Tampa Bay with upper 40s north. Rain will move out for the afternoon with some peeks of sunshine.

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Chief Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri shows you where the coldest temps are expected and what’s happening with weekend rain chances in your 7 day Microclimate Forecast.

Forecast issued at 4:30 pm EDT on Thursday 23 January 2025. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening, possibly severe. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then shifting ...

Point netted an even-strength goal on two shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 5-1 over the Red Wings.

The Red Wings got on the scoreboard with a power-play one-timer from Lucas Raymond late in period two. Raddysh’s power-play goal from the top of the setup extended the Lightning lead on a play in which Kucherov earned his 600th NHL assist.

Lightning star winger Nikita Kucherov, minus-3 on the night, was trying to make a pass at the Toronto blue line, but his turnover led to a breakaway for William Nylander that he buried for his 28th goal of the season and a 2-0 Toronto lead.

The Tampa Bay Lightning's acquisition of star winger Jake Guentzel is paying off in spades, and the Bolts look like a team no one should want to face off against in the playoffs.