Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
These two sides met just last week, with the Utah Hockey Club taking full advantage of home ice and altitude to outgun the Tampa Bay Lightning (6:4). Now, the Lightning return to the comfort of Amalie Arena, eyeing swift revenge.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning endured a forgettable road trip, failing to win in regulation across three games. A shootout win over the Dallas Stars (3:2 SO) was their only bright spot, with regulation losses to the Vegas Golden Knights and the Utah Hockey Club. But the moment the Lightning returned to Florida, the switch flipped — they crushed the Pittsburgh Penguins (6:1) in emphatic fashion. That result was no outlier: the Lightning have won 9 of their last 10 home games, looking near-unbeatable at Amalie Arena.
Utah Hockey Club
The expansion side have held their own this season but remain inconsistent. Their home and away records are strikingly balanced — 15-14-7 at home, 17-14-4 on the road — yet they’ve struggled to beat quality opposition. In March, they picked up half the available points, but their wins came against fellow mid-table sides the Detroit Red Wings and the Vancouver Canucks. Against more established playoff contenders like the Tampa Bay Lightning, the gaps are still evident.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction
Back at home, with Andrei Vasilevskiy expected between the pipes — third in the NHL for goals against average (2.22) and second in save percentage (92%) — the Tampa Bay Lightning should make no mistake this time. They rarely let points slip on home ice and look set to avenge last week’s defeat.
