Wild, Lightning Need to Tighten Defense
The Minnesota Wild have lost two straight games coming into this Tuesday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In both losses, Minnesota has given up a total of 10 goals while scoring just five.
They wind down their four-game road trip in Tampa Bay against a Lightning side that’s also lost two in a row. They’re also underperforming defensively, giving up 11 goals in that span.
Which of these two talented teams can come out on top and cover on the NHL betting odds?
Let’s check the latest NHL news, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Wild vs Lightning. We’ve got plenty of NHL picks for you to consider.
Goaltending Declining for Minnesota
The past two games haven’t been good showings for the Wild. Allowing five goals in each isn’t exactly what the team was hoping for, which is concerning given the upcoming opponent. Tampa Bay has one of the best offenses in the NHL.
In order to clean up the defensive end of the ice, they will need better production out of their goalies. Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury have alternated starts in the crease for the last couple of weeks, and that is likely to continue here.
With Gustavsson starting on Saturday, Fleury should get the nod this time around. Fleury is currently 14-9-3 with a 2.94 goals-against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage.
He’s not had the worst season, ranking 15th amongst goalies in terms of record, but his GAA (28th) and save percentage (29th) are not good. He has a .891 save percentage this month, which makes it really tempting to bet the over with your NHL picks here.
Lightning Offense Set to Shine
The Lightning have lost two in a row, but this looks like a good bounce-back spot. They have plenty of offensive weapons that should be able to light up Fleury and the Wild.
Nikita Kucherov is currently third in the NHL in points with 66. Steven Stamkos has 54 points this season with 23 goals. Also, Braydon Point has 49 points with 27. This offense is deep, talented, and elite.
A big key here will be Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has struggled this month. He’s posted a .897 save percentage after posting a mark of .946 in December. That also might lead you to an over bet in the sportsbook.
Wild vs Lightning Game Injuries
Wild vs Lightning Head-to-Head
The Wild and the Lightning have played once since November of 2021. That matchup came three weeks ago when the Wild won 5-1.
Wild vs Lightning Game Information
- Game: Wild (25-16-4) vs Lightning (29-15-1)
- Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
- Day/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 24th, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Wild vs Lightning Live Stream: NHL.TV
Wild vs Lightning Betting Lines
Wild vs Lightning Picks & Prediction
This is going to be an interesting matchup, especially after Minnesota beat the Lightning by four goals earlier in the month. If you’re looking to bet on the winner, roll with Tampa Bay.
However, the bet online here is the over. With two struggling defenses and goaltenders, we should see plenty of goals.
Tampa Bay is listed at -155 in our Las Vegas NHL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Lightning, you have a chance to win $65. Minnesota is +135, offering a chance to win $135 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Tampa Bay a 60.78% chance to win, with Wild at 42.55%.
Wild vs Lightning Trends
Wild vs Lightning Edge
Wild vs Lightning Results
Wild vs Lightning Game Summary
