Wild vs. Lightning prediction, odds, pick, how to watch
The Minnesota Wild begin a road trip through Florida as we continue our NHL odds series with a Wild-Lightning prediction and pick.
The Minnesota Wild begin a road trip through Florida as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is time to continue our NHL odds series with a Wild-Lightning prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.
The Wild enter the game sitting at 18-20-5 on the year. The Wild have struggled as of late, winning just two of their last ten games. Last time out they face the New York Islanders. The Wild scored first on a Mats Zuccarello goal on the power play in the first period. In the second, they would add two more goals, including a power play goal from Joel Eriksson Ek. In the third, Eriksson Ek would add another goal, and the Wild would add a fifth. Meanwhile, Marc-Andre Fleury saved all 21 shots he faced as the Wild won 5-0.
Meanwhile, the Lighting came into the game sitting at 22-17-5 on the year. They have won four of their last five as well. Last time out, they faced the Anaheim Ducks. After a scoreless first period, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos scored on the power play to make it 2-0. Frank Vatrano would score on the power play as well before Stamkos scored his second power-play goal of the game to make it 3-1. In the third, the Lightning would score twice as the Lighting would go on to win 5-1.
Here are the NHL Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NHL Odds: Wild-Lightning Odds
Minnesota Wild: +1.5 (-200)
Moneyline: +118
Tampa Bay Lightning: -1.5 (+164)
Moneyline: -142
Over: 6.5 (-104)
Under: 6.5 (-118)
How to Watch Wild vs. Lighting
Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT
TV: ESPN+/HULU
Why The Wild Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Wild are 25th in the NHL in goals per game this year, with 2.86 goals per contest on the season. The Wild are led in points by Kirill Kaprizov. He comes in with 13 goals on the year and 22 assists this year good for 35 points. He has five goals and 11 assists on the power play this year. Meanwhile, Joel Eriksson Ek leads the team in goals this year. He comes in with 17 goals and 13 assists this year, good for third on the team in points with 30. He has been wonderful on the power play this year with eight goals and two assists this year.
Mats Zuccarello is also having a great year on the power play this year. He comes in with seven goals and 25 total assets, with two goals and 15 assists on the power play this year. Meanwhile, Matt Boldy is also playing well this year. He comes in with 15 goals and 13 assists this year, good for 28 total points on the year. He has scored five times on the power play with four assists this year. Rounding out the top scorers are Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman. Rossi comes in with 12 goals and 12 assists this year, good for 24 total points. Hartman has 13 goals and nine assists this year, good for 22 points.
The Wild sit 20th in the NHL on the power play, sitting with an 18.8 percent success rate. The Wild are also 29th in the NHL on the penalty kill this year, with a 72.8 percent success rate this year.
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to be in goal for this one. He is 8-9-3 on the year with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Fleury has been struggling, allowing three or more goals in four straight games until last time out. Last time out, he saved all 21 shots he faced for a shutout victory.
Why The Lightning Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Lightning sit 13th in the NHL in scoring this year with 3.30 goals per game on the season. Nikita Kucherov leads the team in goals, assists, and points this year. He comes into the game with 28 goals on the season and 44 assists, good for 72 total points. Kucherov tied for the NHL lead in points this year while sitting third in the NHL in goals. He has been great on the power play this year, with ten goals and 23 assists on the power play this year. Meanwhile, Brayden Point sits second on the team in goals and points this year. He has 20 goals and 24 assists this year, good for his 44 points. Seven of the goals and nine assists come on the power play.
Joining him as a top scorer is Steven Stamkos. Stamkos comes in with 18 goals this year and 23 assists good for 41 points on the year. He also has been solid on the power play, with nine goals and 15 assists this year. The Lightning also gets a lot of help from the blue line on offense. Victor Hedman comes into the game with seven goals and 33 assists this year, good for 40 points. That gives them four players with over 40 points this year. Further, Brandon Hagel comes in with 35 points on 13 goals this year.
The Lightning have been great this year on the power play. They have a 29.5 percent success rate this year on the power play, with 41 total power-play goals. That is the first in the NHL this year. Further, the Lightning have been average when man-down this year. They are 14th in the NHL on the penalty kill with an 80.3 percent success rate this year.
The Lighting is expected to send Andrei Vasilevskiy to defend the net in this one. He is 12-9-0 this year with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. He has been great in four of his last five starts overall. Vasilevskiy has four wins in their last five games, allowing two or fewer goals in three of the last five games. Vasilevskiy has also been over .900 in save percentage in four of the five as well.
Final Wild-Lightning Prediction & Pick
The Wild are coming off a great win, but they have been hit-and-miss. Their goaltending situation has not been great, and while thye sometimes have great games, they also have horrible ones. Now they are facing a surging Lightning team. The Lightning are not as dominant as they have been in past years, but it is clear Andrei Vasilevskiy is coming into form. With him playing well, and the Lightning playing well overall, take them to win in this one.
Final Wild-Lightning Prediction & Pick: Lightning ML (-142)
