The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning meet Thursday in NHL action at the Benchmark International Arena. Here’s a Lightning vs Panthers Prediction. This article will include a Lightning vs Panthers Pick.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers lost to the Sabres, beat the Bruins, and they play the Maple Leafs next. The Panthers have lost 4 of their last 5 games.
The Florida Panthers are averaging 3.02 goals per game and are scoring on 19.1 percent of their power-play opportunities. Sam Reinhart leads Florida with 27 goals, Carter Verhaeghe has 26 assists, and Sam Bennett has 144 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 3.29 goals per game and are killing 82.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 120 goals on 936 shots faced, while Daniil Tarasov has given up 47 goals on 491 shots.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Bruins and Sabres, and they play the Maple Leafs next. The Lightning have won 18 of their last 20 games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.5 goals per game and are scoring on 22.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 29 goals, Darren Raddysh has 34 assists, and Jake Guentzel has 141 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.54 goals per game and are killing 83.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 77 goals on 926 shots faced, while Jonas Johansson has given up 53 goals on 483 shots.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Lightning have won each of their last 12 games following a home win.
- The Panthers have lost each of their last six road games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Lightning.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in 15 of their last 16 night games following a shootout win.
- The Lightning have covered the puck line in four of their last five games at Benchmark International Arena.
- The Lightning have won the third period in each of their last six games when leading after the second period.
Why the Florida Panthers will win
- The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games as road underdogs.
- The Lightning have lost two of their last three games as favorites following an overtime win.
- The Panthers have covered the puck line in each of their last nine games as underdogs following a shootout loss.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The underdogs have won the third period in each of the Panthers’ last five games.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Panthers’ last eight games as underdogs following a win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the last eight games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Thirteen of the Lightning’s last 14 night games against Atlantic Division opponents at Benchmark International Arena have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Panthers’ last 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in eight of the Lightning’s last nine games after coming off overtime.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last six home games.
- Nikita Kucherov has scored at least one goal in seven of the Lightning’s last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Carter Verhaeghe has recorded at least one assist in six of the Panthers’ last seven games as road underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Uvis Balinskis has scored a goal in each of the Panthers’ last four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league for goals per game this season (3.50).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 2nd in the league for goals against per game this season (2.54).
- The Florida Panthers rank 6th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.74%).
- The Florida Panthers rank 25th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.29).
Lightning vs Panthers Prediction
The Lightning are on a heater of all heaters, and it’s why they’re heavy favorites at home. The Panthers played an overtime game last night, which doesn’t help. With that said, the Panthers as a heavy dog are always attractive, as we know what they’re capable of when they’re at their best. Moreover, this is must-win territory, with the Panthers playoff outlook being murky at the moment. Furthermore, this is a rivalry, and the road team has won 7 of the last 8 meetings. We’re getting 1.5 times our money with the Panthers. I have to take it.