Wild vs. Lightning Prediction & Picks - Oct. 8

The Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1), coming off a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, host the Minnesota Wild (2-0-1) at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Wild fell to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in overtime in their last game.

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Prepare for this matchup by checking out our prediction for who will come out on top in Thursday's hockey action.

Wild vs. Lightning Predictions for Thursday

Our computer projections model for this matchup predicts a final tally of Wild 3, Lightning 2.

• Moneyline Pick: Wild (+119)
• Total Pick: Under 6.5 (computer predicts 4.8 goals on average)
• Spread Pick: Wild (+1.5)

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Lightning Splits and Trends

• The Lightning were 12-8-20 in overtime games on their way to a 50-26-6 overall record last season.
• In the 32 games Tampa Bay played that were decided by one goal, it had a 14-12-6 record (good for 34 points).
• In the 11 games last season the Lightning scored just one goal, they went 3-7-1 (seven points).
• Tampa Bay finished 5-12-4 in the 21 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (registering 14 points).
• The Lightning scored more than two goals in 55 games (45-7-3, 93 points).
• In the 30 games when Tampa Bay scored a single power-play goal, it went 17-9-4 to register 38 points.
• In the 51 games when it outshot its opponent, Tampa Bay was 30-15-6 (66 points).
• The Lightning were outshot by their opponent 36 times, and went 21-13-2 (44 points).

Wild Splits and Trends

• The Wild had a record of 46-24-12 last season and were 16-14-30 in overtime games.
• Minnesota accumulated 43 points (17-5-9) in its 31 games that finished with a one-goal margin.
• Last season the Wild registered just one goal in 11 games, and went 1-8-2 (four points).
• Minnesota picked up 12 points (4-12-4 record) last season when scoring two goals .
• The Wild scored three or more goals in 62 games, earning 100 points from those contests.
• Last season Minnesota recorded a lone power-play goal in 38 games, posting a record of 20-11-7.
• When it outshot its opponent last season, Minnesota posted a record of 23-12-5 (51 points).
• The Wild's opponents had more shots in 51 games last season. The Wild finished 27-15-9 in those contests (63 points).

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Team Stats Comparison (2025-26)

Wild vs. Lightning Game Time and TV Channel

• When: Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: ESPN+
• Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Where: Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida

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