Tampa Bay Lightning vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Predictions October 24th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Wild and Lightning. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Lightning at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 6 goals, and the Lightning are favored by -1.5 vs. the Wild in a non-conference matchup.

Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay Key Information

• Teams: Wild at Lightning
• Where: Amalie Arena Tampa
• Date: Thursday, October 24th
• Betting Odds TB -143 | MIN +122 O/U 6

The Wild Can Win If…

With a 5-1 win over the Panthers, the Wild improved to 4-0-2 this season. Minnesota covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 6 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 5.5.

Five different players scored for the Wild, who kept the Panthers off the board until the second period. Marco Rossi opened the scoring at 8:20 in the first period.

In their 5-1 win over the Panthers, the Wild had five different players find the back of the net. Matt Boldy scored his third goal of the season, while Joel Eriksson Ek added his second. Marcus Johansson also got on the board for the first time this year.

The Wild took 22 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. Jacob Middleton contributed with two assists, bringing his total to three for the season. Kirill Kaprizov added his 8th assist of the year.

The Wild’s defense will look to build on a strong performance, where they allowed just one goal to the Panthers. Filip Gustavsson had a 96% save percentage, stopping 24 shots. The defense also recorded 4 takeaways and 26 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Wild have gone 3-0 straight up. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 puck line in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Wild have gone 6-4 straight up. In these contests, the team went just 6-4 against the spread, while going 5-5 on the over-under.

The Lightning Can Win If…

With an 8-5 win over the Devils, Tampa Bay improved to 4-2-0 this season. The Lightning covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total of 13 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 7.

After falling behind 1-0, the Lightning tied it up with a goal at 14:09 in the first period. Tampa Bay then took control, scoring five unanswered goals before the Devils responded.

Brandon Hagel was perfect on his three shots, netting a hat trick, including his 5th goal of the season. Victor Hedman added two goals, while Jake Guentzel scored his 2nd and Janis Moser his 2nd, with Moser’s coming shorthanded. Brayden Point opened the scoring for the Lightning with his 4th goal, which came on a power play.

Tampa Bay fired 37 shots on goal and scored twice on the power play. Anthony Cirelli was active with three assists, bringing his season total to 7. Janis Moser picked up his 4th assist, and Nikita Kucherov added his 5th assist on Jake Guentzel’s power-play goal.

Tampa Bay’s defense will look to improve after giving up five goals to the Devils. They allowed the first goal of the game and three more in the 3rd period. Jonas Johansson made 30 saves with an 85.7% save percentage. The defense also recorded 4 takeaways and 13 hits.

• Tampa Bay has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Against the spread, Tampa Bay went 1-2 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Lightning have gone 5-5 straight up. Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 7-3 over-under mark.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Lightning to come out with a win against the Wild while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -143, I’m placing my bet on the Lightning to win outright.

For a puck line pick, we are going with the Lightning to win and cover. Look for the Lightning to win this one by multiple goals over the Wild.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

The Minnesota Wild will look to continue their impressive start to the season and potentially make NHL history when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. Minnesota has won four of its first six games and, notably, has yet to trail in regulation this season. Should the Wild manage to pull off that feat again on Thursday, they would tie the 1969-70 Boston Bruins as the only teams in NHL history to not trail in regulation through their first seven games.

Wild’s Strong Start and Defensive Dominance

The Wild are coming off a commanding 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, where they took control early with two first-period goals and never looked back. Mats Zuccarello, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek all contributed a goal and an assist each, while goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 24 shots, further cementing Minnesota’s strong defensive identity. With a 3-0-1 record on their current road trip, the Wild are thriving under head coach John Hynes, who credited the team’s maturity and competitive level for their early success.

Minnesota’s top scorer, Kirill Kaprizov, who leads the team with 10 points (two goals, eight assists), emphasized the importance of staying disciplined and avoiding penalties as a key to their continued success. The Wild’s ability to manage the puck and control the game defensively has kept them in charge throughout their games, positioning them as one of the early standout teams this season.

Lightning Aim to Build on Offensive Breakthrough

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning snapped a two-game losing streak with a wild 8-5 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Brandon Hagel stole the show with a natural hat trick, while Anthony Cirelli notched four assists in the offensive outburst. The win provided much-needed relief for a Lightning team that had struggled, including a tough 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs where starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled for the first time this season.

Despite some recent bumps, Tampa Bay will be looking to ride the wave of their offensive momentum as they return home to kick off a three-game homestand. The Lightning have historically struggled against Minnesota, with a 13-20-1 all-time record against the Wild, but they did sweep both meetings last season, including a dominant 7-3 victory in Tampa.

Key Matchups to Watch

• Wild’s Defense vs. Lightning’s Offense: Minnesota’s defensive discipline and strong goaltending from Gustavsson will be tested by a Lightning offense that can erupt at any moment. With Hagel and Cirelli leading the charge, the Wild will need to remain sharp and limit Tampa’s scoring opportunities.
• Kaprizov and Zuccarello vs. Vasilevskiy: Kaprizov and Zuccarello have been the driving forces behind Minnesota’s attack, but they’ll face a formidable challenge in Vasilevskiy, who will be eager to bounce back from a recent dip in form.
• Special Teams Battle: Both teams will need to stay disciplined, as special teams could play a big role in deciding this matchup. Minnesota’s ability to stay out of the penalty box has been crucial, while Tampa Bay will look to exploit any power-play opportunities they get.

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Game Outlook

The Wild are on the verge of NHL history and have been one of the most consistent teams to start the season. However, Tampa Bay’s offensive firepower, coupled with the home-ice advantage, makes this an intriguing and high-stakes showdown. If the Wild can continue to play their brand of tight, defensive hockey, they have a strong chance to keep their unbeaten regulation streak alive. On the other hand, the Lightning will be looking to build on their big win over New Jersey and find consistency as they head deeper into the season.

Prediction

The Wild’s pursuit of history will be put to the test by a Lightning team capable of scoring in bunches. Expect a tightly contested game, but Minnesota’s defensive prowess might just edge out Tampa Bay’s explosive offense.

Wild 4, Lightning 3 (OT)