Welcome back to NHL Predictions, May 2nd edition! Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This is the only game or our NHL Predictions for today, featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to check out our predictions on other days.
NHL Predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Detroit Red Wings
Head-to-Head: Lightning 4-3 Red Wings
It’s the last meeting of eight meetings between the two teams and the backend of a two-game, two-night series. The game will be the lone matchup o the day and broadcast at 3 p.m. Eastern time on NBC in the United States.
Detroit
Thomas Greiss continued his hot play with his second straight shutout a 1-0 shootout win for Detroit. The Red Wings have made a good accounting of themselves winning three of the last four meetings against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Coach Jeff Blashill might consider playing Greiss again if he doesn’t go with Jonathan Bernier.
Former Tampa Bay Adam Erne has shown he’s more than just a big body thanks to his 11 goals this season. Filip Hronek leads the team in assists for a Detroit club that has played better than many experts thought they would.
Tampa Bay
The Lightning need victories if they want to take the Central Division title. Tampa Bay is four points off the first-place Carolina Hurricanes in the division and two points behind the Florida Panthers for second. The Lightning do have two games in hand on the Panthers. Vezina trophy favourite Andrei Vasilevskiy likely gets the nod after Curtis McElhinney started on Saturday night.
Brayden Point is the team’s top goal-scorer with 22 goals while defenceman Victor Hedman is tops in assists with 35 assists. Hedman is making his case to win his second Norris Trophy for top defenceman in the league. He took the top prize for best blueliner in 2018.
Prediction
The Red Wings have given the Lightning fits in the last few meetings, but the champs would love to get home ice for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Four of the games have been decided by two goals or less, so this will be likely be a tighter game. However, the champs pick up the win on national television.
Prediction: Lightning win 4-2.
