Tampa Bay Lightning vs Minnesota Wild Prediction, 3/3/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Minnesota Wild

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Location: Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, MN

TV: Fanduel Sports Network

Grand Casino Arena is the location where the Minnesota Wild (35-16-10) will meet the Tampa Bay Lightning (38-16-4) on Tuesday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will need a bounce back game after taking a 6-2 loss against the Sabres in their previous contest . Tampa Bay compiled 28 minutes in the box in this contest. In addition, they had 3 power play tries but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. The Lightning didn't have their best offensive outing in this loss. While out there on the ice, they converted 2 of the 38 shots they attempted.

Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have earned 183 power play opportunities (8th in the league) and have come away with 31 goals in those chances. The Lightning have seen 1,551 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .903. Tampa Bay has attempted 1,650 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 12.4%. At even strength, the Lightning have conceded 120 goals while getting 165 on the offensive side of the ice. Tampa Bay comes into tonight with 183 power play opportunities and they have tallied 40 goals out of those chances, giving them a rate of 21.86%. For the year, they have racked up 80 points and their points percentage is sitting at .690. Regarding their scoring capabilities, the Tampa Bay Lightning have earned 205 goals (4th in the league) so far this year and have given up 151.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has participated in 579 games during his NHL career. He has earned a mark of 359-171-38 and he has started in 569 games. Opponents have scored 1,420 goals against Vasilevskiy in his NHL career and his goals against average per contest is 2.50. Vasilevskiy has seen 17,114 shots against him and has recorded 15,694 saves. His save percentage is .917 during his 28,716 minutes guarding the cage. Over the course of his pro career, Vasilevskiy has 334 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .587.

In their last contest, Minnesota squared up with the Blues in an outing where the Wild took the defeat by a final score of 3-1. The Wild earned 1 goal out of the 23 shots on goal they pursued. They had 2 power play opportunities in this one and scored 1 out of those chances.

Minnesota has attempted 1,757 shots (7th in professional hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 11.38%, while allowing the other team 1,845 shots. They have a penalty kill percentage of 77.56% on the other teams 156 chances on the power play, and their save percentage currently comes in at 90.5%. They have earned 200 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 26.00%. The Wild have scored 148 goals at even strength and 52 goals (3rd in hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have granted a total of 176 goals to be scored by way of 141 goals at even strength and 35 goals while they had less men on the ice. So far this season, the Minnesota Wild have accumulated 200 goals, 80 points, in addition to a points percentage of .656.

Across the ice you will find Filip Gustavsson protecting the net. He has tallied 5,515 saves out of 6,047 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .912. Gustavsson is the owner of a career record of 104-69-26 and has participated in 207 games. He has been a starter 198 games and his ice time sits at 9,051 minutes. Gustavsson's quality start rate is 61.6% and he has 122 quality starts in his hockey career. His opposition is averaging 2.69 goals per game and he has conceded 532 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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