Stars vs Lightning Prediction 1/18/26 NHL Picks Today

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars meet Sunday in NHL action at the American Airlines Center. Here’s a Stars vs Lightning Prediction. This article will include a Stars vs Lightning Pick.

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Penguins, lost to the Blues, and they play the Sharks next. The Lightning have won 11 of their last 12 games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.48 goals per game and are scoring on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 24 goals, Darren Raddysh has 29 assists, and Jake Guentzel has 124 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.54 goals per game and are killing 83.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 65 goals on 752 shots faced, while Jonas Johansson has given up 47 goals on 454 shots.

Dallas Stars Betting Preview

The Dallas Stars lost to the Ducks and Mammoth, and they play the Bruins next. The Stars have lost 9 of their last 11 games.

The Dallas Stars are averaging 3.31 goals per game and are scoring on 28.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Jason Robertson leads Dallas with 27 goals, Mikko Rantanen has 44 assists and Wyatt Johnston has 121 shots on goal. Defensively, the Dallas Stars are allowing 2.75 goals per game and are killing 79.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jake Oettinger has allowed 79 goals on 814 shots faced, while Casey DeSmith has given up 46 goals on 517 shots.

Why the Dallas Stars will win

• The Stars have won 14 of their last 15 Sunday home games.
• The Lightning have lost three of their last four day games after coming off a shootout.
• The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five day games after coming off a shootout.
• The Stars have covered the puck line in six of their last seven home games against the Lightning.
• The Stars have won the third period in each of their last six day games at American Airlines Center following a road loss.

Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win

• The Lightning have won 11 of their last 12 games.
• The Stars have lost nine of their last 11 games.
• The Stars have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven home games following a road loss.
• The Lightning have covered the puck line in six of their last seven away games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Stars have lost the second period in each of their last four games when tied after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Lightning’s last six games against Central Division opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Each of the Stars’ last five day games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last six road games following a shootout loss.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 11 of the Stars’ last 12 day games.

Dallas Stars Player Prop Facts

• Mavrik Bourque has scored a goal in four of the Stars’ last five home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• Mikko Rantanen has recorded at least one assist in each of the Stars’ last six day games.
• Wyatt Johnston ranks 1st in the league for Power Play Goals (15) this season.

Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts

• Nikita Kucherov has scored at least one goal in seven of the Lightning’s last eight road games.
• Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last six day games.
• Jake Guentzel has recorded a faceoff win percentage of 75.0% against the Stars this season – most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Dallas Stars rank 2nd in the league in power play percentage this season (28.78%).
• The Dallas Stars are one of four teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league for goals per game this season (3.48).
• The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league for goals against per game this season (2.54).

Stars vs Lightning Prediction

The Stars are usually a safe bet, especially at home, but they’ve fallen off a cliff over the last couple of weeks and are a tough sell in their current form. The Lightning have been the hottest team in the league with wins in 11 of their last 12 games and that loss came in a shootout. The Lightning are in peak form and are racking up the points left and right. Two teams playing completely different hockey. I’d need some plus money to look in the Stars direction. At a pick em price, I have to side with the Lightning to stay hot.