The Anaheim Ducks (18-21-5) travel to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning (23-16-3) on Thursday, January 16th. This game will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa and televised on ESPN+. Both the Ducks and Lightning will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

Ducks vs Lightning

The Anaheim Ducks Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

With a 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks, the Ducks’ record dropped to 18-21-5. Anaheim entered as -1.5 goal favorites, failing to cover the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined 6 goals fell just short.

Anaheim’s defense struggled early, allowing two goals in the first period and three before they managed to score. The Ducks’ offense came to life in the third period, but it was too late to mount a comeback.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

The Lightning fell to 23-16-3 after a 7-4 loss to the Jets. Tampa Bay, as underdogs on the puck line, couldn’t cover, and the total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Tampa Bay held a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Jets responded with seven of the next nine goals. Four different Lightning players scored in the game.

Anaheim Offense Breakdown

Anaheim managed 39 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 4-2 loss to Chicago. Brock McGinn scored his second goal of the season, while Mason McTavish added his second, coming on a power play with just four seconds left in the game.

The Ducks were held scoreless until the 9:44 mark of the third period. They had 16 giveaways and recorded 3 assists, with Troy Terry picking up his fifth assist of the season.

Lightning Offense Breakdown

The Lightning took 30 shots on goal in their 7-4 loss to the Jets, with four different players finding the back of the net. Brandon Hagel opened the scoring with his 7th goal of the season, while Brayden Point added his 8th on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee scored his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th.

Tampa Bay’s second goal came on a power play, with Victor Hedman earning his 10th assist of the season. The Lightning had 8 giveaways in the game.

Anaheim Team Defense

The Ducks’ defense struggled early, giving up the first three goals of the game. Two of those came in the first period, including one at 16:44, and another was scored at 18:05 in the second. Despite Anaheim getting on the board in the third, they allowed another goal at 17:43, sealing a 4-2 loss. Lukas Dostal made 25 saves with an 86.2% save percentage, and the defense recorded 6 takeaways and 15 hits.

Tampa Bay Team Defense

Tampa Bay’s defense struggled late, surrendering the final three goals, including two empty-netters, in a 7-4 loss to the Jets. After tying the game 4-4, they gave up the go-ahead goal at the 7:38 mark of the 3rd period. Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage.

Ducks vs Lightning Trends

• In their last ten games away from home, the Ducks have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 6-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 2 goals per game in this stretch.
• In their last five home games, Tampa Bay has averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 2. The team’s record in this stretch was 3-2 while going 3-2 vs. the spread.
• Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Lightning have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the puck line in these games was 4-1.
• In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Ducks have a straight up record of 6-4 and an puck line mark of 5-5.

Ducks vs Lightning Prediction

When it comes to a straight moneyline bet, look no further than the Lightning. Nevertheless, given the payout of -298, you could also think about incorporating this bet into a parlay.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Ducks to cover. Even if the Lightning manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Ducks should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.