NHL Predictions: Tampa Bay Lightning Three Keys To Victory Vs Winnipeg Jets
Today’s NHL predictions include interconference matchups. The Tampa Bay Lightning (18-15-5) defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Sunday night. The Lightning worked together to win by 4 goals, coming from a 2 goal deficit in the second quarter. Tampa Bay has a tendency to fall behind early this season and then catch up in the second half. On the other side of this matchup, the Winnipeg Jets (22-9-4) have proven to be the best team in the NHL this season. The Jets have become a very organized defensive team, something the organization has failed to do in recent years. Despite the absence of Kyle Connor, who led the team with 17 goals, the Jets were still hot. Meanwhile, trade acquisition Gabriel Vilardi was outstanding for the Jets, scoring 15 points in 17 games. The Lightning will face a strong and organized opponent on Tuesday night as they look to get off to an impressive start to 2024. The Jets have scored in nine of their last 10 games and are sixth in the standings. Winnipeg is the least talked about team in the top 10. The Bolts face a huge challenge as they try to climb out of the playoff bubble. Here are the keys to the Lightning’s victory in this matchup:
The Thunder have trailed by two goals in four of their last five games. The team seems to struggle with their legs in the first quarter. If the Lightning start slow, they will have no choice but to catch up late in the game. The Bolts have the talent to win consistently, but this style of hockey is not sustainable long term until the playoffs.
The Lightning need to control the pace of the game from the moment the puck drops instead of sitting back and playing against the Jets. The best way to determine the pace of play is to predict how often the Lightning have tipped this year. Nikita Kucherov, who primarily creates scoring opportunities with his speed, sheds three forwards off the line and checks forward. If lightning passes through your pilot early, your emotions will rise, increasing your confidence.
