Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and then offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will kick off their two-game homestand with a cross-conference matchup against the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 7 p.m. The Bolts (23-16-3) are coming off a disheartening 6-2 loss to a key division rival in the Boston Bruins.

Jake Guentzel scores the only goal in the shootout to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 victory over the Ducks.

The Ducks were coming off of one of their poorest offensive performances of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday with a 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Lightning came into this game after recently seeing their four-game point streak snapped on Tuesday when they lost 6-2 to the Boston Bruins.

The Lightning were a tired team Thursday night against the Ducks. Yes, they were back home. But after returning from Boston Wednesday following a three-game, four-day trip — part of a 16-game gauntlet (10 on the road) in January — they were a weary group.

Robby Fabbri, Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson score for the Ducks, who fall to 1-3-1 on their six-game trip when Guentzel scores the only goal for either team in the shootout to hand them a 4-3 defeat.