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Lightning vs. Blues prediction: Tampa Bay favored to win Friday's NHL matchup [1/16/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Tampa Bay Lightning vs St. Louis Blues predictions for NHL Friday.
NHL action continues on Friday at 8:00 PM ET as the Tampa Bay Lightning square off with the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model predicts the Lightning as the most likely winner of the Lightning vs. Blues game.
This article offers further insights into Friday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Lightning vs. Blues prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Friday's NHL matchup between the Lightning and Blues 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives the Lightning a 62% chance of beating the Blues.
According to our model, the Blues (+1.5) have a 61% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 5.5 goals has a 58% chance of going over.
Lightning vs. Blues odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Lightning | Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+140) | +1.5 (-160) |
| Moneyline | -190 | +170 |
| Total | o5.5 (-124) | u5.5 (+105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Lightning vs. Blues picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Blues +1.5 | -160 |
| Moneyline | Blues | +170 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | -124 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 5.5 total goals.
Lightning vs. Blues player props
Who will score a goal in Lightning vs. Blues?
According to our model, Jake Guentzel is most likely to score an anytime goal in Lightning vs. Blues.
Our projections give Guentzel a 39.6% chance of scoring a goal at Enterprise Center, while the star is an 8.6% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jake Guentzel | 39.6% |
| Nikita Kucherov | 38.2% |
| Brandon Hagel | 36.5% |
| Anthony Cirelli | 22.0% |
| Darren Raddysh | 20.6% |
St. Louis Blues
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jordan Kyrou | 28.7% |
| Jake Neighbours | 26.6% |
| Pavel Buchnevich | 22.8% |
| Brayden Schenn | 20.9% |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | 20.3% |
First goal scorer predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jake Guentzel | 8.6% |
| Nikita Kucherov | 7.5% |
| Brandon Hagel | 6.7% |
| Anthony Cirelli | 4.2% |
| Darren Raddysh | 3.7% |
St. Louis Blues
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jordan Kyrou | 5.7% |
| Jake Neighbours | 4.9% |
| Pavel Buchnevich | 4.4% |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | 3.7% |
| Brayden Schenn | 3.6% |
Lightning vs. Blues game-day updates and essential details
Friday's game between the Blues and Lightning at Enterprise Center is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. St. Louis Blues
- Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Enterprise Center
Conclusion
We predict the Lightning, with a 62% win probability, will likely beat the Blues on Friday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Lightning vs. Blues insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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