Both the Tampa Bay Lightning (44-20-8) and Dallas Stars (41-27-4) have plenty on the line when they match up Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. While the defending champion Lightning are jockeying for playoff positioning in the East, the Stars are engaged in a battle for a wild-card spot in the West. The Lightning vs Stars prediction highlights two critical points up for grabs Tuesday night.
- Date/Time: April 12, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: American Airlines Center
- TV Coverage: TVAS, ESPN
- Sportsbook Lightning vs Stars Odds: Lightning -175 | O/U 6
- Lightning vs Stars Betting Matchup Report
Lightning vs Stars Odds & Analysis
Sportsbook Odds
The Bolts have gone from heavy -175 favorites to -131, indicating support coming in for Dallas as a Lightning vs Stars pick. The Stars can now be found at +130 after Sportsbook at +138.
Get the best Lightning vs Stars odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.
- Best Spread+160-180TB-1.5+1.5DAL
- Best Moneyline-158+143TBDAL
- Best Total+100-110Over66Under
Lightning Looking To Build Momentum
After uncharacteristically losing four straight games, Tampa Bay ended its swoon with a convincing 5-0 triumph over the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. Backup netminder Brian Elliott turned aside 28 shots to earn the shutout and Ondrej Palat had a goal and an assist as one of 11 Lightning players to record a point.
The game provided a much-needed breather for Andrei Vasilevskiy, meaning the star goalie should be well-rested and in great shape to snap a personal three-game losing streak.
The Lightning are third in the Atlantic Division, four points behind Toronto and one up on Boston, which holds down the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Positive Homestand A Must For Dallas
Jason Robertson tallied twice and Roope Hintz had three points Sunday as the Stars downed the Blackhawks 6-4 in Chicago, scoring more than three goals for the first time in five games. They’d lost two straight and three of their previous four.
Dallas, 22-10-2 at American Airlines Center, is Sportsbook a three-game homestand as it battles for a playoff berth in the West. The Stars currently hold down the No. 2 wild-card spot in the conference, one point behind the Nashville Predators and two ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Lightning downed the Stars 3-1 in their first meeting of the season on January 15 in Tampa and have won 11 of the last 14 head-to-head matchups, dating back to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, which could influence the Lightning vs Stars prediction.
Lightning vs Stars Pick & Insights
Lightning: Keys To Victory
Vasilevskiy needs to get back to his best if the Lightning want to head into the playoffs in excellent form. Tampa’s defense has been stellar all season and is among the league’s best at limiting opponents’ shots, a factor to consider in making a Lightning vs Stars pick.
Stars: Keys To Victory
Dallas ranks second in faceoff win percentage in the NHL, a noteworthy strength against a team that is lethal in the offensive zone. Limiting Tampa’s scoring chances will be just as important as getting continued contributions from veterans Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, who’ve been hot over the Stars’ last seven games.
Odds Shark’s Computer Lightning vs Stars Prediction: Lightning -145
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- Dallas is 8-4 in its last 12 games.
- The UNDER is 11-5 in Tampa Bay’s last 16 games.
- Tampa Bay is 8-2 in its last 10 games vs Dallas.
