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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.
The St. Louis Blues will square off with the Tampa Bay Lightning in NHL action at Enterprise Center on Friday, commencing at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model predicts the Lightning as the most likely winner of the Lightning vs. Blues game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of 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, we have simulated the result of Friday's NHL game 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 defeating the Blues.
According to our model, the Blues (+1.5) have a 60% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 5.5 goals has a 56% chance of going over.
Lightning vs. Blues odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Lightning | Blues |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+132) | +1.5 (-145) |
| Moneyline | -200 | +170 |
| Total | o5.5 (-108) | u5.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Lightning vs. Blues picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current 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 | -145 |
| Moneyline | Blues | +170 |
| Total | Over 5.5 | -108 |
According to our best NHL 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 39.3% chance of scoring a goal at Enterprise Center, while the star is a 7.8% chance of registering the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jake Guentzel | 39.3% |
| Nikita Kucherov | 36.7% |
| Brandon Hagel | 36.5% |
| Nick Paul | 20.6% |
| Darren Raddysh | 20.1% |
St. Louis Blues
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jordan Kyrou | 28.3% |
| Jake Neighbours | 26.4% |
| Brayden Schenn | 22.1% |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | 21.2% |
| Pavel Buchnevich | 21.1% |
First goal scorer predictions
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jake Guentzel | 7.8% |
| Nikita Kucherov | 7.8% |
| Brandon Hagel | 7.7% |
| Nick Paul | 3.8% |
| Darren Raddysh | 3.7% |
St. Louis Blues
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jordan Kyrou | 5.7% |
| Jake Neighbours | 4.8% |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | 3.7% |
| Brayden Schenn | 3.7% |
| Pavel Buchnevich | 3.7% |
Lightning vs. Blues game-day updates and essential details
Friday's game between the Blues and Lightning at Enterprise Center is scheduled to begin 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 drawn from up-to-date 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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