The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers meet Saturday in NHL action at the Amerant Bank Arena. Here’s a Panthers vs Lightning Prediction. This article will include a Panthers vs Lightning Pick.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Hurricanes and Blues, and they play the Habs next. The Lightning have lost 7 of their last 11 games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.25 goals per game and are scoring on 18.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Brandon Hagel leads Tampa Bay with 18 goals, Nikita Kucherov has 32 assists, and Jake Guentzel has 98 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.61 goals per game and are killing 84.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 50 goals on 575 shots faced, while Jonas Johansson has given up 39 goals on 378 shots.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers beat the Hurricanes, lost to the Blues, and they play the Capitals next. The Panthers have won 8 of their last 10 games.
The Florida Panthers are averaging 3.19 goals per game and are scoring 19 percent of their power-play opportunities. Brad Marchand leads Florida with 20 goals, Sam Reinhart has 19 assists, and Sam Bennett has 92 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 3.14 goals per game and are killing 82.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 68 goals on 610 shots faced, while Daniil Tarasov has given up 34 goals on 339 shots.
Why the Florida Panthers will win
- The Panthers have won 10 of their last 11 home games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Lightning have lost each of their last four games at Amerant Bank Arena following a win.
- The Panthers have covered the puck line in each of their last four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last 10 night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Panthers have won the second period in each of their last six home games against Atlantic Division opponents when trailing after the first period.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Lightning have won each of their last four games as underdogs.
- The Panthers have lost four of their last five games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Lightning have covered the puck line in each of their last seven games as underdogs.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as home favorites.
- The Lightning have won the second period in each of their last five road games against Atlantic Division opponents when tied after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Nine of the Lightning’s last 10 night games at Amerant Bank Arena following a home win have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Four of the Panthers’ last five games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Four of the last five games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last five games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Panthers’ last seven games following a road win.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Carter Verhaeghe has scored at least one goal in five of the Panthers’ last six games as favorites.
- Matthew Tkachuk has recorded at least one assist in each of his last eight Saturday night appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Sam Reinhart ranks T2nd in the league for Game Winning Goals (5) this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of his last 10 Saturday road appearances.
- Brandon Hagel has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances with the Lightning as underdogs.
- Janis Jerome Moser has recorded four hits against the Panthers this season – most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Florida Panthers have suffered the equal-most losses by a margin of 2+ goals this season (14).
- The Florida Panthers rank T5th in the league in short handed goals this season (4).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 3rd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (84.35%).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of three teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
Panthers vs Lightning Prediction
The Lightning and cheap prices are always worth a look, and this is a heated rivalry where you’re usually going to get the best from both sides. However, the Panthers have won 6 of the last 9 meetings, which includes a 5-2 win a couple of weeks ago on the road. The Panthers have found their form over the last few weeks, and they’re just not a team I’m excited to bet against when playing solid hockey. I’d need it to be worth my while to take the Lightning on the road in this spot, and the price just isn’t that. Give me the Panthers and a near pick em price.