Wild vs. Lightning Prediction & Odds: Hagel Leads Lightning to Victory (March 24)
The Tampa Bay Lightning return home to Benchmark International Arena tonight (7:30 p.m. ET) to host the Minnesota Wild after wrapping up a successful four-game road trip out West.
I'm expecting a game with six goals or fewer in my Wild vs. Lightning prediction. As part of my best NHL bets, I'm headlining a Brandon Hagel player prop.
π Wild vs. Lightning picks & odds today: March 24
See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.
| Bet type | Prediction | Units | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game prediction | Lightning ML (-172 via FanDuel) | 2u -> 1.16u | ββββ |
| Over/Under total | Under 6.5 (-120 via bet365) | 1u -> 0.88u | ββββ |
| Brandon Hagel player prop bet | Over 0.5 assists (+120 via BetMGM) | 1u -> 1.2u | ββββ |
Total wagered: 4 units | Max profit: 3.24 units
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π° Wild vs. Lightning prediction & best bet
Under 6.5 (-120)
If the Wild are going to keep things competitive, which I believe they will, they'll concentrate on locking things down defensively. And as it's the first game back in Tampa after a four-game western trip, the Lightning might need some time to find their legs and kick that explosive offense into high gear.
Score prediction: Lightning 3, Wild 2
π₯ Best Wild vs. Lightning player prop bet
Brandon Hagel Over 0.5 assists (+120)
Hagel is on an assist tear over the last four games, registering six. He failed to notch one in Calgary against the Flames. Then again, most Lightning players laid an egg in Calgary after a heroic effort the previous night in Edmonton.
With a few days' rest, I expect Hagel to be back to his best, setting up Hart Trophy odds front-runner Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli.
That trio had expected goals rates of 64%, 75%, and 71% against the Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, and Edmonton Oilers, respectively, on the recent road trip.
🤑 Anytime goal scorer predictions
Looking for goals? Our Dustin Saracini has his best anytime goal scorer predictions to get you set for the 15-game slate tonight.
βAre Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek playing tonight vs. Lightning?
Kaprizov (lower body) will be in the lineup Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Kaprizov missed the last two games but will be in action in a big game between two of the NHL's best. Meanwhile, Joel Eriksson Ek will also return to the lineup tonight after missing the last three games with a lower-body injury. The reinforcements have officially arrived for the Wild.
π Live Wild vs. Lightning odds
The Wild's odds opened at +150 but have since shortened to between +142 and +145. That's probably due to some buyback for an excellent Wild team that has the fourth-best road points percentage (.667).
💡 NHL player props today
If you're looking for four picks that are more appealing than a fully-loaded kebab after a night out, check out my NHL player props today.
π Wild vs. Lightning same-game parlay
💵 Wild vs. Lightning SGP picks
- Lightning ML (-172)
- Under 6.5 (-130)
- Brandon Hagel Over 0.5 assists (+120)
Best odds: +516 via FanDuel (.2u -> 1.03u)
π΅ My betting record for NHL picks
All NHL picks have been tracked since March 1.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 44-59-3 | +4.71 units β | 5% β |
| Player props | 27-43 | -7.51 units β | -11.5% β |
π‘ How I'm betting Wild vs. Lightning
Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.
Teams often struggle in their first game back at home after a cross-continent road trip. However, the Lightning were excellent on the trip and could be facing a Wild team without three of their top players.
I'm confident in the Under because of the Wild's recent track record of prioritizing defense. Hagel, meanwhile, has been awesome recently, and he's been finding Kucherov consistently.
π Wild vs. Lightning betting trends
| Wild | Statistic | Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| 40-19-12 | W-L record | 43-21-5 |
| 37-34-0 | ATS record | 37-32-0 |
| 1-6-3 | O/U record last 10 | 7-2-1 |
| 2-2-1 | Last 5 games | 3-1-1 |
π Wild vs. Lightning injuries
πΊ How to watch Wild vs. Lightning
- Date: Tuesday, March 24
- Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Benchmark International Arena (Tampa, Fla.)
- TV: TNT
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