The red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning will take their three-game winning streak into Thursday’s matchup with the Minnesota Wild. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 PM EST at Amalie Arena. This is the final contest of a four-game homestand for Tampa, who just smashed the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Saturday. They come in very well-rested. Minnesota meanwhile just notched an impressive 5-0 win over the New York Islanders but things haven’t been going well for this team lately. We’ll get into that more below. Continue reading for the Wild vs Lightning picks.
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The Lightning is a clear favorite at -134 odds for an implied win probability of 57.26%. The Wild return at +119 and have a 45.66% chance of coming out victorious. The total in goals is set at 6.5. Tampa has won two straight against Minnesota, outscoring them 8-3 in the process. It’s the second meeting between the two in the 2023-24 season.
It’s been another disappointing season for the Wild, with the playoffs unlikely to be a reality. Minnesota is in seventh place in the Central Division with an 18-20-5 record. The only team below them is the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. Minny’s problems are on both ends of the ice, allowing 3.3 goals per game and scoring a mere 2.86 per contest. There’s honestly no clear bright spot if you’re a Wild fan.
Leading the way offensively has been Kirill Kaprizov. He’s scored 13 goals and produced 22 assists for a team-best 35 points. The Russian just returned from an upper-body injury after missing some time. Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek have both hit the 30-point mark, too. Some guys on this Wild roster can score and serve as playmakers, but there’s just not enough consistency.
That being said, Minnesota turned up and made a statement on Monday evening, blanking the Isles. Zuccarello opened the scoring in the first period before Connor Dewar and Eriksson Ek both scored in the second to break things wide open. Eriksson Ek netted a second while Marcus Foligno added a fifth in the third period. In between the posts, netminder Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves and collected his 552nd career win moving him into second all-time and passing Patrick Roy in the process. The Wild are only 2-7-1 in their last 10 matchups.
The Lightning were definitely considered a dynasty at one point, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups a few years ago before losing in the Cup to the Colorado Avalanche in 2021-22. Last season saw them bow out in the opening round to the Toronto Maple Leafs though and in 2023-24, Tampa hasn’t been the most consistent. Yes, the Atlantic Division is incredibly tough, but the Bolts are only in fifth spot with a 22-17-5 record. Just two points separate them and third place Detroit, though.
Offense is a clear strength for Jon Cooper’s squad, who ranks 11th in goals, 19th in shots on goal, first in power play percentage, and seventh in shooting percentage. Right winger Nikita Kucherov is lighting the league on fire, tallying 72 points with 28 goals and 44 assists. Brayden Point also has 44 points, while Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman have hit the 40-point mark as well. These four players are absolutely key for Tampa Bay. The blue line is clearly something the Lightning must strengthen at the trade deadline though, ranking 26th in goals allowed. That’s a huge reason Tampa isn’t higher in the division or the Eastern Conference.
The Bolts are 6-4-0 in their previous 10 outings and flexed their muscle last Saturday at home versus Anaheim. Both Stamkos and Kucherov tallied three points apiece to set the tone for Tampa. Stamkos, who has seen his name pop up in trade rumors, scored twice. Kucherov tallied three assists. The first period was scoreless before the Lightning broke it open with three goals. They added another two in the third. Tampa will be happy to be playing at home on Thursday, having gone 14-5-3 at Amalie Arena. That’s a far cry from their sub-.500 record on the road.
Tampa is a much different team on home ice and has Minnesota’s number in recent memory. Take the Lightning to extend the win streak to four.
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