The Detroit Red Wings will be missing the playoffs once again as they were officially eliminated from contention on Saturday. They will be in Tampa Bay on Monday to take on the Lightning. The Lightning are still battling it out for first place in the Atlantic Division, so this game still means something for them. The Lightning are a far better team than the Red Wings both offensively and defensively. The Lightning are averaging 3.50 goals for per game, while the Red Wings are averaging only 2.94 goals per game. On the defensive side of things, the Lightning are third-best in the NHL, averaging 2.78 goals against per game. The Red Wings are averaging 3.03 goals against per game. The Lightning are also a very good team when playing on home ice. Their record is 25-13-1 at the Benchmark International Arena this season.
The Lightning have won two of the three previous meetings between these two teams this season, and I expect them to be playing desperate on Monday which should allow them to take three of the four meetings this season. Give me the Lightning in this one.
Red Wings vs. Lightning prediction: Lightning 3-way ML (-125) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.