The Tampa Bay Lightning (22-13-3) visit the Anaheim Ducks (21-16-2) in a Wednesday-afternoon clash. Things will get underway at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Lightning vs. Ducks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Lightning lead 1-0
Tampa Bay, which defeated the Ducks 4-3 at home Oct. 25, is opening a 3-game California swing that wraps around the New Year. The Lightning last played Sunday, earning a 5-4 (Over 7) shootout win over the +102 Montreal Canadiens and winning their fourth straight game.
Anaheim was on the losing side of a 5-4 (Over 6.5) score in its last (Monday vs. +139 San Jose Sharks). The Ducks outshot the Sharks 42-13 in that game but still suffered their fifth loss in their last 6 games (1-4-1). Anaheim has coughed up 4.83 goals per game over that stretch.
Lightning at Ducks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:44 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Lightning -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Ducks +125 (bet $100 to win $125)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning -1.5 (+155) | Ducks +1.5 (-190)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Lightning at Ducks projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (14-7-2, 2.30 GAA, .913 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Lukas Dostal (13-9-1, 3.12 GAA, .889 SV%)
Vasilevskiy last played on Saturday when he stopped 24-of-26 pucks in a 4-2 win against the Florida Panthers. That game was on the road where the Bolts’ primary netminder has registered a .917 SV% this season.
Dostal faltered in Monday’s game against San Jose, allowing 4 goals before being lifted after 32 minutes. The 25-year-old has had a dreadful December, posting an .836 SV% in 7 games.
Lightning at Ducks picks and predictionsPrediction
Ducks 4, Lightning 3
The streaky Ducks have played the Bolts tough the last couple years. The last 4 meetings have netted a regulation win for each side plus a pair of Anaheim 1-pointers.
Hockey-reference.com pegs Tampa Bay with a lofty 12% shooting percentage; it’s a good club but one maybe slightly too far out over its skis with a point percentage of .618.
DUCKS (+125) is worth some partial-unit action.
No interest unless the Anaheim outlay were to drop to the -175 range. AVOID.
The Anaheim defense has been leaky of late: the last 6 Ducks’ games have seen the Over go 4-1-1. Expected-goal metrics would say the Anaheim defense will right itself somewhat, but the Ducks’ offense has also posted better analytics than results of late. That tips the scales here, especially against a Tampa club on a scoring binge of late (19 goals in its last 4 games).
The OVER 6.5 (-110) is the value side.
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