Minnesota Wild vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 1/18/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: ESPN+/Hulu

Odds/Point Spread: Wild (+140) Lightning (-175)

The Tampa Bay Lightning (22-17-5) will go up against the Minnesota Wild (18-20-5) at Amalie Arena on Thursday. The moneyline on this matchup has Minnesota at +140 while Tampa Bay is at -175. The total has been set at 7.

The Minnesota Wild went home feeling good about their game by earning a 5-0 victory against the Islanders their last time out. Minnesota earned 10 penalty minutes in this matchup. The Wild had a good offensive outing and it showed in this victory. Moreover, they had 5 chances with extra men on the ice and were able to score 2 goals. While out there on the ice, they netted 5 out of the 40 shots they attempted.

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While playing at even strength, the Wild have surrendered 102 goals while having 96 of their own. Minnesota Wild opponents have amassed 147 power play opportunities (4th in hockey) and have tallied 40 goals in those chances. Pertaining to their scoring capabilities, the Minnesota Wild have accounted for 123 goals (26th in hockey) on the season and have given up 142. Minnesota has attempted 1,302 shots and has a shot percentage of 9.5%. For the current season, they have 41 points and their points % is .477. The Wild so far have had 1,294 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .890. Minnesota has compiled 144 power play opportunities and they have notched 27 goals out of those tries, garnering them a percentage of 18.75%.

The man in goal for this game is Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been involved in 1,007 matchups throughout his hockey career. He has compiled an overall mark of 552-324-94 and he started in 847 games. The opposition has notched 2,516 goals against Fleury in his pro career and his goals against average is 2.59. Fleury has had 28,695 shots against him and has amassed 26,179 saves. He has a save percentage of .912 during his 58,295 minutes in the crease. During his career on the ice, Fleury has recorded 465 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .549.

In their last game, Tampa Bay faced the Ducks in an outing where the Lightning notched a victory by a tally of 5-1. They had 3 chances on the power play in this matchup and earned 3 out of those chances. The Lightning tallied 5 goals of the 41 shots on goal they tried.

On the season, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accumulated 145 goals, 49 points, as well as a points percentage of .557. They have permitted 149 goals to be scored by way of 125 goals at even strength and 24 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Lightning have 104 goals at even strength and 41 goals (2nd in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have earned 139 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 29.50%. Tampa Bay has put up 1,327 shots (15th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.93%, while allowing the opposition 1,321 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 80.33% on the other teams 122 chances on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 88.7%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes. He has compiled 12,383 saves out of 13,493 shots tried, giving him a rate of .918. Vasilevskiy is the owner of a career mark of 275-132-28 and has been in goal for 446 games. He has made the start in 436 contests and his ice time sits at 26,225 minutes. Vasilevskiy's quality start percentage sits at 56.7% and he has made 247 quality starting assignments in his pro career. The opposition is averaging 2.54 goals per game and he has surrendered 1,110 goals overall.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-175) and under 6.5 goals

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