Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Lightning vs Wild NHL Odds
Looking for Tampa Lightning vs. Minnesota Wild free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Lightning taking on the Wild on Thursday, January 16th at the xCel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Lightning Wild matchup.
NHL Handicapping Analysis
(28-14-4) Tampa Lightning vs. Minnesota Wild (20-20-6)
Date: Thursday, January 16th
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Venue: xCel Energy Center, St. Paul MN
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Lightning -165 | Wild +145
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Lightning -1.5
NHL Betting Total: 6.5
- Click here to view… NHL ATS Stats & NHL Hockey Betting Insight for this game!
- *Click Here* Check out our Live Betting Odds for this game!
- *Click Here* Check out our Updated Sportsbook Bonuses for today!
- *Click Here* Buy Tickets for this game from STUB HUB!
The Minnesota Wild are at home Thursday – which gives them a shot. The fact that it’s Tampa Bay visiting all but negates said chance of winning.
The Lightning come in as the hottest team in hockey, winners of their last 10. Tampa Bay is starting to show that prowess that earned them the President’s Trophy a year ago.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE RAZOR RAY’S NHL PICKS FOR THIS WEEK!
Even the fact that the Wild are at home is a tough angle to pull off of in this one as Minnesota has lost 4 of their last 5. TB looks like an easy play, but there is no such thing as an absolute sure thing in NHL wagering.
Tampa Lightning
It was definitely a slow start to the season for Tampa Bay and there were some definite signs of a playoff hangover from winning the President’s Trophy and then being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay has stormed back with a vengeance though. The Lightning have won 11 of their last 12 including 5 of their last 6 on the road.
One reason that Jon Cooper’s team carries a little bit of a risk on Thursday is because of their last road game, a 1-3 loss at lowly New Jersey as -205 favorites. That defeat did come on 0 days rest though following a win at Philly.
Minnesota’s offense is in the down part of their up and down season. That’s not a good thing when facing Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy who has allowed a goal or less in 4 of his last 6 appearances.
Minnesota Wild
The total for Thursday’s game is 6.5 which gives Minnesota at least a bit of a chance of scoring some goals. Tampa Bay does go to Winnipeg on Friday though, and perhaps they save Vasilevskiy for the tougher game vs. the Jets?
If TB does go with goaltender #1, don’t expect much scoring from the Wild. Minnesota has been held to a goal or less in 4 of their last 7 and come into the matchup on a 4-game losing streak.
Overall Minnesota has been very solid at the xCel Energy Center, going 11-5-4 in St. Paul. The Wild have lost to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and NYI with an OT win over Winnipeg in their last five though.
Does Minnesota go with Devan Dubnyk against Tampa Bay’s #4 scoring offense? Dubnyk got rocked for 7 goals on 29 shots vs. Pittsburgh on Tuesday. #2 Alex Stalock has a 4-game losing streak going though.
NHL Betting Trends:
- Lightning are 2-9 last 11 vs. Central
- Lightning are 4-1 last 5 vs. Western Conference
- Wild are 5-1 last 6 Thursday games
- Wild are 1-4 last 5 home games
- Lightning are 0-7 last 7 in Minnesota
Free Tampa Lightning vs. Minnesota Wild NHL Prediction:
For whatever reason, this is a good matchup for Minnesota. The Lightning have lost 7 in a row in St. Paul and Minnesota won 5-4 at Amalie Arena back in December, their 2nd straight win in Tampa. Might as well ride the contrarian play here.
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Wild +145
If you’re looking for more NHL picks like this Tampa Lightning vs. Minnesota Wild matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NHL predictions on the blog during the entire 2019 NHL season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NHL Hockey picks!
Check out our Updated NHL Hockey Betting Odds.
Register here for a FREE NHL Hockey Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!