Tampa Bay at Minnesota

The Tampa Bay Lightning have put together a rather strong start at 5-2-1 on the season. They have really not played a bad game yet as they have held their intensity early in the season. This is likely going to be a tired team as they will be playing in their fifth city in seven days. They had to play last night, and now have to cross the border back into the U.S. to take on Minnesota. This is going to be a physically exhausted team that may have that satisfied feeling of knowing that they had a successful road trip win or lose in this one. The Wild has been the best team in the NHL, and have broken the will of every offense they have faced, recording three shutouts on the season and just 4 total goals in five games. They have been perfect at home where they are not only 2-0, no one has even scored a goal here, and that has a tendency to electrify a defense. The composite on the season is 12-4 in scoring margin and a gaudy 7-0 at home. Tampa Bay is a tired team, so I think the Wild could quickly break their will here and go onto a comfortable home win. Play Minnesota on the puckline.