Winnipeg Jets vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions November 3rd 2024

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Lightning versus the Jets? The puck drops at 3:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The odds for this non-conference game currently have the Jets as the -1.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 6 goals.

Tampa Bay vs. Winnipeg Key Information

• Teams: Lightning at Jets
• Where: Canada Life Centre Winnipeg
• Date: Sunday, November 3rd
• Betting Odds WPG -128 | TB +108 O/U 6

The Lightning Can Win If…

Tampa Bay’s 5-3 loss to the Wild brings their record to 7-4-0 this season. The Lightning led 1-0 after the first period, but the Wild responded with five unanswered goals. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled in the third period, allowing four goals.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 8 goals pushed it over. Tampa Bay, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. Three different Lightning players found the net in the loss.

Tampa Bay fired 30 shots on goal against Minnesota, but only managed to find the net three times. Brayden Point opened the scoring early, netting his 8th goal just 45 seconds into the game. Jake Guentzel added his 6th goal, while Nick Paul scored his 5th with 2:26 left in the third period.

Two of the Lightning’s goals came on power plays. Victor Hedman picked up his 9th and 10th assists of the season, while Nikita Kucherov recorded his 10th assist on Guentzel’s goal. The Lightning had 7 giveaways in the game.

Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead into the second period, but their defense struggled late, giving up the tying goal just 47 seconds into the second period and four more in the third. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 17 saves and an 85% save percentage. The Lightning’s defense also recorded 11 hits and 3 takeaways.

• Tampa Bay will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. However, they have only gone 1-2 vs. the puck line over this stretch. Their over-under record in these three games was 2-1.
• Tampa Bay has put together a record of 6-4 in their last ten games (regular season). This includes going 4-6 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 6-3-1.

The Jets Can Win If…

With a 6-2 win over the Blue Jackets, the Jets improved to 10-1-0 this season. Winnipeg covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 8 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Nikolaj Ehlers led the way with a hat trick, as four different Jets found the net. Winnipeg scored first at 14:47 in the opening period, and the Blue Jackets tied it up at 8:58, but the Jets pulled away from there.

Nikolaj Ehlers led the way for the Jets with his third hat trick of the season, scoring his 6th, 7th, and 8th goals. Ehlers found the net twice in the first period and added another in the second. Mason Appleton scored his 4th goal of the season, while Josh Morrissey added his 2nd on a power play. Gabriel Vilardi closed out the scoring with his 4th goal.

Winnipeg took 44 shots on goal and recorded 7 assists. Ehlers picked up his 8th assist on Morrissey’s power-play goal, which was his 11th assist of the season. The Jets had 12 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Jets will look to carry the momentum from their last game, where they allowed just two goals to Columbus. Eric Comrie made 20 saves with a 90.9% save percentage, and the defense contributed with 8 takeaways and 17 hits. The Jets will aim to build on their strong third period, where they shut out the Blue Jackets.

• Over their last three games, the Jets have gone 2-1 straight up. In addition, their puck line record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 3-0 over-under mark.
• Across Winnipeg’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 9-1. Across these games, their puck line record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 7-3.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Jets to come out with a win against the Lightning while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -128, I’m placing my bet on the Jets to win outright.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Lightning to cover. Even if the Jets manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Lightning 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.

The Winnipeg Jets’ high-flying offense is at the forefront of their franchise-best start, and they’ll look to keep the momentum going as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday afternoon. With an NHL-best 20 points and a 10-1-0 record through 11 games, Winnipeg’s explosive scoring and efficient power play have been central to their early success.

Jets’ Dominant Offense

The Jets have scored a league-high 52 goals, averaging 4.73 goals per game, and have shown a knack for piling on goals in bunches. Winnipeg has hit the six-goal mark in five games already this season, including back-to-back 6-2 victories over the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets. This offensive surge has been powered by both depth scoring and strong special teams, with the Jets boasting a lethal power play that has converted on 45.2% of its opportunities (14-for-31).

“We’re trying to keep people out of our end of the rink,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “When we get teams tired and caught in their zone, we make sure to keep the pressure on.”

Nikolaj Ehlers’ hat trick on Friday against Columbus and the consistent contributions from defenseman Josh Morrissey, who added a goal and an assist in that game, illustrate the team’s well-rounded attack. Morrissey has been a key playmaker, quarterbacking the power play effectively and generating offense from the blue line.

Star winger Kyle Connor has been the catalyst, extending his season-opening point streak to 11 games. With 18 points already (seven goals, 11 assists), he has shown his ability to be a game-changer night in and night out. Connor has been particularly dangerous against Tampa Bay, amassing six goals and four assists in 11 career matchups, and he’ll look to keep that success rolling at home.

Lightning’s Road Struggles

While the Tampa Bay Lightning are off to a respectable start at 6-4-1, their road performances have been less consistent. They’ve allowed five goals in four of their six away games, including a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Friday. In that game, Tampa Bay took an early lead and were tied 2-2 late in the third period before Minnesota exploded for three goals in the final minutes.

Nick Paul, who has been one of Tampa Bay’s key contributors, emphasized the need for better execution late in games. “There’s a lot of things to learn from this game, especially just closing out games,” Paul remarked.

Jake Guentzel has been a bright spot for the Lightning, scoring his fifth goal of the season against the Wild and contributing five points (three goals, two assists) over his last three games. However, Tampa Bay’s defensive inconsistencies, particularly on the road, have left them vulnerable.

Goaltending Matchup

Goaltending could play a significant role in Sunday’s game, and both teams will look to their netminders to make key stops. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay’s elite goaltender, has been excellent at home but has struggled on the road this season, with a 2-3-0 record and a 3.47 goals-against average (GAA) in away games. His career stats at Winnipeg are not much better, as he holds a 1-3-1 record and a 3.40 GAA at Canada Life Centre. Backup goalie Jonas Johansson, who has played sparingly, allowed five goals in his only start of the season against the New Jersey Devils.

For Winnipeg, Connor Hellebuyck has been a rock between the pipes. He boasts a stellar 7-1-0 record with a 2.12 GAA and has been especially sharp during his current four-game winning streak against Tampa Bay, conceding only two goals per game in those matchups. Backup Eric Comrie has also been dependable, improving to 3-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA after a solid 20-save performance in Columbus.

Key Matchups and Storylines

Jets’ Power Play vs. Lightning’s Penalty Kill

Winnipeg’s power play has been deadly, so Tampa Bay will need to stay disciplined and shore up their penalty kill to avoid getting burned. With the Jets converting at a near 50% clip, the Lightning’s ability to defend while shorthanded could be a deciding factor.

Kyle Connor vs. Tampa Bay Defense

Connor’s point streak and his scoring history against the Lightning make him a key player to watch. Tampa Bay will need to defend him closely, limiting his time and space to prevent him from taking over the game. The Lightning’s defense will have to be at their best to contain him.

Tampa Bay’s Road Defense

The Lightning need to tighten up defensively on the road, especially against a potent Jets offense that thrives on exploiting defensive lapses. If Tampa Bay’s blueliners can’t clean up their play in their own zone, Winnipeg could have another big scoring night.

Conclusion

The Jets will aim to keep their offensive juggernaut rolling and capitalize on Tampa Bay’s road struggles, while the Lightning will look to tighten up their defense and find a way to contain Winnipeg’s relentless attack. With both teams boasting dynamic offenses, this matchup has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, putting the spotlight on the goaltenders to make crucial saves. If Winnipeg can maintain their high-octane style and convert on the power play, they could continue their record-setting start with another victory.