Utah Hockey Club vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions March 22nd 2025

Lightning Look to Stay Hot in Historic Matchup vs. Utah

The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their crucial Western road swing on Saturday with a historic visit to Salt Lake City, where they’ll face the Utah Hockey Club for the first time ever in Utah. With the Atlantic Division race tightening, every point counts as Tampa Bay pushes for the top spot.

The Lightning (40-23-5, 85 points) come into the matchup riding a three-game winning streak and sitting just two points behind both the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. With a game in hand, Tampa Bay has a prime opportunity to leap in the standings as the regular season enters the final stretch.

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“It felt like a playoff atmosphere out there,” said forward Anthony Cirelli, who notched a goal and an assist in Thursday’s 3-2 shootout win over Dallas. “It’s nice to go out with two points.”

Goncalves Delivers in Big Moment

Thursday’s shootout victory was sealed by rookie center Gage Goncalves, who netted the game-winner in the fourth round. It marked the first shootout goal of his NHL career and a memorable moment in his 48-game stint with the Lightning so far.

“(Coach Jon Cooper) tapped me on the back and said, ‘Go win it, kid,’” Goncalves shared. “I’m happy it went in and happy we started this road trip off right.”

“Gage is a good player… I’ve got faith in the kid, and he delivered for us,” Cooper added.

Following Saturday’s game, the Lightning will wrap up their road trip in Las Vegas before returning east—where they won’t leave the Eastern time zone for the rest of the season. This makes every game on this trip a high-leverage opportunity to stockpile points.

Utah Staying in the Wild Card Hunt

Utah is proving to be no pushover, especially at home. Winners of six of their last eight in Salt Lake City, the club is still firmly in the Western Conference playoff chase. Sitting four points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot—and with a game in hand—Utah is treating every contest like a must-win.

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Their 5-2 comeback victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday was a statement. Dylan Guenther’s ninth game-winning goal of the season capped off a three-goal third period and highlighted Utah’s late-game poise.

“It was a huge game for us (Thursday), and we found a way to win,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “Now we have a different animal coming here on the weekend, and we’ll have to be ready.”

Despite allowing both a power-play and short-handed goal, Utah found ways to respond with even-strength offense and strong third-period execution.

Saturday’s clash marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the clubs, with the rematch set for March 27 in Tampa. With playoff implications on the line for both teams, the game promises intensity, urgency, and potential fireworks.

Looking for NHL predictions as the playoff race heats up? Don’t miss out on the best NHL picks and expert analysis for every key matchup.