Inconsistent Lightning Face Tall Task vs. Golden Knights

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to find some consistency as they face off against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. Coach Jon Cooper admitted that his team has been inconsistent heading into this pivotal matchup, especially as they remain in a tight race for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

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Lightning’s Struggles with Consistency

The Lightning (40-24-5, 85 points) are just two points behind the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs in the battle for first place in the division. After a gritty 3-2 shootout win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Tampa Bay had a chance to capitalize on losses by their rivals but fell short in a 6-4 loss to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.

“We’re like a yo-yo right now,” Cooper said. “Good game, tough game. Good game, tough one.”

The defeat at Utah was another reminder of the team’s inconsistency. Despite rallying from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to tie the game, they surrendered go-ahead goals just seconds later. Nick Schmaltz scored the decisive goal early in the third period after pouncing on his own rebound.

Backup goaltender Brandon Halverson made his first NHL start and stopped 19 of 24 shots, as Andrei Vasilevskiy was given a much-needed night off.

“To be honest, that game was not on him at all,” Cooper said. “He gave us everything he had. The tough part is that we didn’t play near well enough in front of him.”

Golden Knights’ Dominance at Home

The Vegas Golden Knights (41-20-8, 90 points) have been one of the most dominant home teams in the Western Conference, boasting a 26-7-3 record at T-Mobile Arena. They have won seven of their last eight home games and are tied with the Dallas Stars for most home victories in the conference.

The Golden Knights are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, powered by a hat trick from Tomas Hertl, his second in the last seven games.

“A cool moment when you see all the hats coming down (on the ice),” Hertl said. “It’s way better to get a hat trick when you win. It was a good team effort and a big win for us.”

Jack Eichel added an empty-net goal to secure his 600th career point, reflecting on the achievement with gratitude:

“It’s a cool milestone,” Eichel said. “I’ve played with some amazing players, and I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Betting Insights and PicksVegas Golden Knights ATS: Vegas has covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 home games.

Tampa Bay Lightning ATS: Tampa Bay has failed to cover in 4 of their last 6 road games.
Over/Under: The total has gone over in 7 of the last 10 meetings between these teams.

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Final Thoughts

The Tampa Bay Lightning will need to shake off their inconsistency and bring their best game to face the surging Vegas Golden Knights. With both teams pushing for crucial points in their respective divisions, this matchup promises to be a thrilling battle. Can the Lightning bounce back, or will the Golden Knights continue to dominate at home?

Vegas Golden Knights vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions March 23rd 2025