The Tampa Bay Lightning travel north to face the Winnipeg Jets in a cross-conference showdown Thursday night. Tampa Bay’s experienced core continues to keep the team in playoff contention, while Winnipeg remains one of the Western Conference’s toughest defensive teams. With both clubs capable of dominating possession and controlling tempo, this matchup could come down to goaltending and special teams. Continue reading to get my Lightning vs Jets prediction or get more professional insight and daily locks on our NHL page.
Our Lightning vs Jets Pick
Pick:
Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Winnipeg Jets
- Date & Time: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Canada Life Centre
- Broadcast: ESPN+, TSN
Lightning Injury Report
- Nick Paul: IR.
- Max Crozier: IR.
- Nikita Kucherov: Expected to play.
- Victor Hedman: Anchoring the defense.
- Brayden Point: Continues to produce offensively.
Jets Injury Report
- Josh Morrissey: Expected to miss tonight’s game.
- Neal Pionk: Expected to miss tonight’s game.
- Colin Miller: Expected to miss tonight’s game.
- Connor Hellebuyck: Likely starting goalie.
- Kyle Connor: Leading goal scorer.
- Mark Scheifele: Expected to center the top line.
Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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5/5
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