The Tampa Bay Lightning (10-3-2) face the Minnesota Wild (12-3-3) on Saturday at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET. Let's analyze NHL odds around the Lightning vs. Wild odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2026-27 season series: Lightning lead 1-0; won 3-2 at home on Oct. 8
The Lightning head up to the State of Hockey after keeping their unbeaten streak at home alive on Thursday in a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks -- despite the trade request of F Nikita Kucherov surrounding the team. Kucherov leads Tampa with 20 points (4 G, 16 A). Against the Blackhawks, F Ilya Mikheyev scored twice.
The Lightning enter Saturday with a stellar record but sit in just third place in the Atlantic Division.
In the first meeting between these two teams this season, D John Carlson scored twice for the Bolts.
Meanwhile, Minnesota leads the Western Conference's Central Division by an impressive 6 points and is on a three-game winning streak. Most recently, the Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Friday. Minnesota was led by their top scorers in the win, as F Kirill Kaprizov scored his NHL-leading 16th goal and added 3 assists while D Quinn Hughes had a goal and 2 assists, as well.
Kaprizov and Hughes are both on seven-game point streaks, as are F Matt Boldy and F Joel Eriksson Ek heading into this matchup against the Lightning.
So far this season, Tampa Bay is 8-7-0 both against the spread and in favor of the Over. Minnesota is 13-5 ATS but just 5-13 against the total. The Lightning won the first game between these two as a -148 favorite and the Under (6.5) hit.
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Lightning at Wild odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 3 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lightning -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Wild +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning -1.5 (+170) | Wild +1.5 (-210)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Lightning at Wild projected goalies
Dennis Hildeby (2-0-1, 2.97 GAA, .885 SV%) vs. Calvin Pickard (1-1-0, 3.50 GAA, .833 SV%)
The Lightning are playing their first game of a back-to-back as they'll visit the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. On the other side, the Wild are playing their second game of a back-to-back after beating the Sharks on Friday.
We have a perfect formula for a. No. 2 goalie battle for both teams.
Hurricanes at Islanders picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 5, Wild 3
Moneyline
BET LIGHTNING -135.
There is clearly more juice in the spread which could come down to an empty netter, we're going to go there with our pick. But the moneyline is worth taking for less of a risk.
Puck line/Against the spread
BET LIGHTNING -1.5 (+170).
The team on the second day of the back-to-back is likely going to be at a disadvantage despite the promising season the Wild have had so far. The Lightning are just looking like a well-oil machine, all that despite Kucherov putting in that trade request. Tampa has gained a point in five straight games and is performing at a high rate at the offensive end of the ice.
Over/Under
BET OVER 6.5 (-115).
With all the respect given into the world to a professional goaltender having reached the highest level of the game, we have a battle between two No. 2s. Don't overthink the Over here and ride it.
Betting odds calculator
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Tampa Bay Lightning at Minnesota Wild odds, picks and predictions
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