Tampa Bay Lightning vs Anaheim Ducks Picks and Predictions January 16th 2025

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Anaheim Ducks January 16th 2025

The Ducks and Lightning are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Lightning will host the game at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 6 goals, and the Lightning are favored by -1.5 against the Ducks.

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Anaheim vs. Tampa Bay Key Information

Anaheim dropped to 18-21-5 with a 4-2 road loss to the Blackhawks. The Ducks, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score reached only 6.

Chicago built a 3-0 lead before the Ducks got on the board in the third period. Anaheim’s defense struggled early, giving up two goals in the first period.

Anaheim fired 39 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 4-2 loss to Chicago. Brock McGinn scored his second goal of the season at the 9:44 mark of the third period, while Mason McTavish added a power-play goal with just 4 seconds left, also his second of the year.

The Ducks registered 16 giveaways and were held scoreless until McGinn’s goal. Troy Terry picked up his fifth assist on McTavish’s late goal, and Ryan Strome added his fourth assist of the season.

Defensively, the Ducks will look to improve after giving up four goals to the Blackhawks, including the first three of the game. Lukas Dostal made 25 saves with a save percentage of 86.2%. Anaheim’s defense also contributed 6 takeaways and 15 hits.

Following a 7-4 loss to the Jets, the Lightning are now 23-16-3. Tampa Bay led 2-0 early, but the Jets responded with seven of the next nine goals. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals went well over that line.

As underdogs on the puck line, the Lightning failed to cover. Four different Lightning players scored in the game, but two empty-net goals from the Jets put it out of reach.

Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for the Lightning, netting his 7th goal of the season. Brayden Point followed with his 8th goal, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal of the year, and Nikita Kucherov, who now has 10 goals this season, scored Tampa Bay’s final goal.

The Lightning fired 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They tallied 4 assists, with Jake Guentzel picking up his 8th assist of the season and Nick Paul adding his 7th.

Defensively, the Lightning will look to bounce back after allowing 7 goals to the Jets. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with a save percentage of 84.4%. Tampa Bay’s defense also recorded 6 takeaways and 16 hits. The Lightning gave up the first goal of the game at 12:23 in the first period and allowed 4 more in the 3rd, including two empty-netters.

If you’re looking for a straight moneyline bet, then the Lightning are the way to go. However, with a payout of -298, you might consider using this bet as a leg of a parlay.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Ducks to cover. Even if the Lightning win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Ducks should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

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Lightning Seek Payback Against Struggling Ducks

The Tampa Bay Lightning return home Thursday night looking to settle a score against the Anaheim Ducks, who handed them a 4-1 loss in California earlier this month.

Lightning Return After Mixed Road Trip

Tampa Bay (24-17-5) completed a three-game road trip with an overtime loss in New Jersey, a dominant 3-0 win in Pittsburgh, and a humbling 6-2 defeat in Boston.

In Tuesday’s loss to the Bruins, the Lightning fired a season-high 45 shots on goal but still found themselves down 4-0 early. Head coach Jon Cooper was frustrated by his team’s slow starts.

“We took the first period off in every game and basically had to play a two-period game,” Cooper said. “It’s frustrating because it’s the best league in the world. You can’t just sit here and say you’re going to play 40 minutes and expect to win games.”

Making matters worse, Cooper scratched star forward Brayden Point (25 goals, 22 assists) for missing a meeting. It remains to be seen if Point will return against Anaheim.

Despite the loss, Nikita Kucherov extended his point streak to six games (three goals, six assists), while defenseman Victor Hedman notched his ninth multi-point game of the season.

Ducks Searching for Offense on Tough Road Trip

Anaheim (17-28-2) is 1-3-0 so far on its five-game road trip, including two shutout losses against Philadelphia and Washington.

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The Ducks’ only win came in overtime against Carolina, but their inability to generate offense has been a glaring issue. They rank last in the NHL in goals per game (2.41) and second to last in power-play efficiency (12.9%).

“We’ve got to find a way to produce offense,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to the Capitals. “I don’t know if we had a shot on net on the power play or got set up.”

Frank Vatrano, who had two goals and an assist in the Ducks’ win over Tampa Bay on Jan. 5, has since cooled off, going five games without a goal.

Can Tampa Bay Get Revenge?

The Lightning will be looking to avenge their loss to Anaheim, and the Ducks’ recent struggles suggest this could be the perfect opportunity. However, Tampa Bay must shake off its slow starts and bring a full 60-minute effort if it hopes to avoid another letdown.