The Detroit Red Wings (13-11-7) have lost six games in a row and are seeing their playoff chances fade in real-time. They’ll have a challenging task in ending the skid as they host the Tampa Bay Lightning (20-11-1) on Wednesday night.
Expected Starting Goalies
Tampa is coming off of a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, while Detroit lost 4-3 in overtime against the Washington Capitals on Monday.
Lightning backup Brian Elliot is likely to start tonight. He has an impressive 7-1-0 record to go along with a 3.09 goals-against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage.
Ville Husso, the expected starting goaltender for the Red Wings stats, is 11-6-5 with a 2.66 GAA and .913 save percentage.
The Lightning vs. Red Wings betting begins at 7 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The game will be broadcast on BSSUN and BSDETX. It is one of seven NHL games on the NHL schedule tonight.
Last Game Records
Heading into the Lightning vs. Red Wings betting, Tampa Bay is 7-3 in its last ten games.
They won five in a row, but against weaker NHL teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens, before losing to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Detroit, meanwhile, has lost six games in a row. They haven’t won since beating the Lightning 4-2 on December 6. The Red Wings are now 6th in the NHL standings for the Atlantic Division.
Lightning vs. Red Wings Betting Analysis
Tampa Bay is the favorite in the Lightning vs. Red Wings betting. While the puck line wasn’t set as of early Wednesday morning, Tampa Bay was favored on the money line at -170. The Red Wings were paying out +153 on the money line.
The over/under for the Tampa Bay Lightning game tonight is set at 6.5, with the over and under paying out +102 and -113, respectively.
Lightning Looking To Rebound After Awful Performance
According to head coach Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay had three days off before its game against the Maple Leafs Tuesday night and didn’t use that time wisely.
The Lightning was dominated in all facets of the game and registered just 19 shots on goal.
“I don’t know what part of the game they reinvented that had us perform like that,” Cooper said after the game.
“But note to self, don’t come to Toronto three days before the game. That was painfully evident because we did not show up tonight.”
Lightning’s Performance
Fortunately, the Lightning can quickly move on and forget that performance with a win tonight in a back-to-back. Tampa Bay is 8-6 on the road this season and 7-4 against opponents in the Atlantic Division.
They are tied for third in goals at 3.58 per game but haven’t been as tight defensively as they have in the past, as they rank 14th in goals allowed at 2.87 per game.
Red Wings Offense Drying Up
Detroit looked like they might be turning the corner as a franchise early this season. Still, this recent six-game slump has proved costly, especially as Atlantic Division rivals like the Maple Leafs, Lightning, and Boston Bruins continue to play well.
Red Wings’ NHL Player Stats
Detroit scored just ten goals during its six-game losing streak, and six came during the last two games.
Dylan Larkin leads the team in NHL player stats with 28 points in 30 games.
Dominik Kubalik is second with 26 points, while Filip Hronek leads Detroit’s defensemen with 25 points. Detroit is 25th in the league in goals per game at 2.9.
NHL Injury Report
Tampa Bay is relatively healthy heading into the Lightning vs. Red Wings betting, but Detroit has several players on the NHL injury report.
Forwards
- Tyler Bertuzzi
- Jakub Vrana
- Filip Zadina
- Robby Fabbri
Are all out for various reasons, as are defensemen Robert Haag and Mark Pysyk.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Preview
Detroit has actually been better against the spread (ATS) than Tampa Bay this season, as they have a 17-14 record but are just 8-8 on home ice. The Lightning is 14-17 ATS, including 5-9 away from home.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Prediction
While several advanced stats and betting trends favor the Lightning in NHL picks, those aren’t needed.
There’s simply no way Tampa Bay loses tonight after its performance against Toronto Tuesday night. This team has been to three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, and they’ll be ready to rectify last night’s embarrassing loss.
NHL Pick: Lightning (-170)
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