Minnesota Wild (18-20-5) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (22-17-5)
Minnesota Wild vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 1/18/24 – As the NHL regular season continues to heat up, the upcoming matchup between the Minnesota Wild and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday is drawing significant attention from fans and bettors alike. This game, is one of the most anticipated NHL predictions this week, will take place at the Amalie Arena, promising a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for a crucial win to boost their standings.
Minnesota Wild’s offense has been both resilient and unpredictable this season. Led by Kirill Kaprizov (13 goals and 21 assists) and Joel Eriksson (15 goals), their firepower can overcome any defense; however, road game results against the spread and recent trends of exceeding totals indicate some inconsistency from them; against an opponent like Tampa Lightning that have demonstrated vulnerabilities against road spread games against them, their offense must remain sharp and decisive to have any chance against their strong defensive capabilities.
Conversely, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offensive prowess, led by Nikita Kucherov’s 28 goals and 44 assists, and Brayden Point’s 20 goals respectively, presents an immense threat. Their ability to consistently find the back of the net with high shooting percentage makes them formidable opponents; therefore Minnesota Wild’s defense must perform at its highest levels to withstand this onslaught; their goaltender could play a vital role in unlocking their defensive setup against these powerful attackers.
Minnesota Wild vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 1/18/24 Game Info
| When: | Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Amalie Arena |
| TV: | ESP+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Filip Gustavsson vs. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy
Minnesota Wild’s Filip Gustavsson faces off against Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy for goaltending supremacy on Tuesday. Gustavsson boasts a save percentage of 0.898 and a goals-against average of 3.13, showing resilience against Tampa Bay’s potency offense; particularly in shootouts; however, his inconsistency may pose issues against them when handling high-pressure situations or power plays.
Andrei Vasilevskiy brings considerable experience and skill to Tampa Bay’s defense. With an equal save percentage but a slightly better goals-against average of 2.86 than Gustavsson, Vasilevskiy has been instrumental in many victories for Tampa Bay. His performance against the Minnesota Wild’s offensive leaders may prove decisive; making crucial saves under pressure will be tested by their relentless attack.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
Betting odds for this matchup have yet to be decided due to their close nature and recent performances and trends, however it appears as though oddsmakers might lean toward Tampa Bay Lightning given their slightly better record and home advantage. Bettors should keep an eye out on moneyline and total odds as soon as they become available to gain insight into how oddsmakers view this contest.
Minnesota Wild Betting Trends
The Minnesota Wild is an inconsistent team, as seen by its betting trends. While they do possess an impressive record against the spread in road games, their overall performance in recent games has been less-than-impressive. Hitting the over in total points suggests their games tend to be high-scoring; something which could play into this matchup’s outcome. Bettors should keep these trends in mind when evaluating this team in terms of point spread or total points bets.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Trends
The Lightning’s betting trends demonstrate a team with greater success at home than on the road, evidenced by their record against the spread in home games and hitting total point totals over and above in these home matches. These indicators could be important indicators for bettors seeking to capitalize on Tampa Bay’s strengths by placing over/under bets or considering point spreads favorable to them.
Minnesota Wild vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 1/18/24 Betting Picks
As this exciting NHL match-up draws nearer, both teams’ strengths and vulnerabilities become clear. Minnesota Wild’s potent offense led by Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek can exploit any defensive lapses from Tampa Bay Lightning while their goaltending and defensive inconsistency leaves them vulnerable against Tampa Bay’s powerful attack. Meanwhile, Kucherov and Point’s remarkable home record against the spread raises questions of their consistency on the road.
Betting picks in Tampa Bay Lightning favour are safest when considering home record and goaltender Vasilevskiy’s high level of play in goal, along with over/under betting trends that show both teams can exceed total points totals. Prop bets such as goals scored or assists earned for key players like Kucherov or Kaprizov could offer greater value.
Top Multi-handicapper picks might lean towards the Lightning for a straight win, but there is value in exploring the point spread, especially if it favors the Wild with a decent margin. The over/under bet also remains a tempting choice, considering the offensive capabilities of both teams.
Free Pick and Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning 4,Minnesota Wild 3