This is an 8* MID-CHALK CHOKE-OUT on the Minnesota Wild

No need to overanalyze this pick in my opinion, the Lightning end a long road trip tonight and are coming off a satisfying 4-2 win at Winnipeg on Friday; suffice it to say, I look for the home side to take full advantage of this "spot." As good as Tampa has been on this trip, take note that it's injured, many key players are sitting today. Also, the Lightning are going to run smack dab into a red hot goaltender in Darcy Kuemper who made 26 saves in his team's 2-0 win over Arizona on Thursday; for the year, Kuemper is 3-1-0 with a 0.50 GAA in four outings. The Wild will face Lightning backup Evgeni Nabokov who has been decent this year, but note that is just 19-22 (-3.1 units) in its last 41 vs. teams with winning records. Also note that Minnesota is 14-11 (+4.6 units) in its last 25 after a win by 2 goals or more. A great situational play, in my opinion this is the very definition of great line value; play on MINNESOTA.

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