Jets vs Lightning Prediction

AI Match Analysis

Tampa Bay arrives in Winnipeg as the stronger side on recent evidence. Before their October 29 meeting, the Lightning were 7-3-1 and averaging 3.45 goals per game. The Jets were 4-5-3, had gone 0-4-2 in their previous six, and had scored two or fewer goals in five straight games. The Jets also lean heavily on Stuart Skinner in goal following Connor Hellebuyck's departure. Winnipeg's blue line remains thin. Josh Morrissey has been out since October 7 with an upper-body injury. He practised in a regular jersey and with the first power-play unit on Saturday, but coach Scott Arniel was unsure he would play Sunday. Elias Salomonsson is away from the team for personal reasons with no return date. Tampa Bay played at Minnesota on Saturday, so this is the second game of a back-to-back. Their top line of Kucherov, Guentzel and Point is intact, and Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the starter against Atlantic opponents. The independent model also makes the Lightning the most likely winner at roughly 45%.