Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/25/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, April 25, 2024

Venue:  Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL

Where to Watch:  TBS, MAX

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Panthers -108, Lightning -112; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Panthers -110, Lightning -110; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Panthers -110, Lightning -110; Over/Under:  6 goals

Florida Panthers:  52-24-6 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

Tampa Bay Lightning:  45-29-8 (4th place, Atlantic Division)

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Florida Panthers:  7-2-1 last 10

Tampa Bay Lightning:  4-4-2 last 10

The Panthers are entering this game with 110 points, a 52-24-6 record overall, and they were 26-11-4 in their road games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in their last game, winning that one at home 3-2 in overtime. Sam Bennett, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Carter Verhaeghe each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Matthew Tkachuk led the team in assists with 2 while Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart each led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Sergei Bobrovsky was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 23 shots with 21 saves and a .913 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 268 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 200 goals against them allowing 2.4 goals per game.

The Lightning are entering this game with 98 points, a 45-29-8 record overall, and they were 25-11-5 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Florida Panthers in their last game, losing that one on the road 3-2 in OT. Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Victor Hedman led the team in assists with 2 while Anthony Duclair led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Andrei Vasilevskiy was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 37 shots with 34 saves and a .919 save percentage. Their offense has scored 291 goals this season averaging 3.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 268 goals against them allowing 3.3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Lightning listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 3 of a 7 game series between the 1st seeded Panthers from the Atlantic Division and the 1st seeded Wild Card, the Lightning, for Round 1 of the NHL Eastern Conference playoffs. The Panthers have a 2-0 series lead after winning game 2 of this series on their home ice. The Panthers have looked great in the first 2 games of this series to win both games at home, but they were also some very tight wins as they won both games by scores of 3-2. The Lightning were never out of either game and game 2 could have really gone either way since it went to overtime. The Lightning managed to keep the first 2 games in this series close and those were both on the road where the Lightning haven't looked nearly as good this season. The Lightning have looked a lot better on home ice this season with their 25-11-4 home record and they are going to be pushing a lot harder to win this home game since they are down 2-0 in the series. No team wants to go down 3-0 in the series since comebacks rarely happen in that situation and considering how close the Lightning were to winning the first 2 games, they will use all the playoff experience they have from previous years to dig deep in this game and cut the series lead in half. The best way to place a bet here is on the Lightning to win this game. 

Panthers Lightning Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, April 25, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Lightning 4 Panthers 3.

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Florida Panthers: 40-22 (+12.3 units) on the moneyline off a win against a division rival. 17-4 (+12.7 units) on the moneyline after allowing 2 goals or less in 5 straight games. 24-8 UNDER after a 6 game unbeaten streak. 11-2 UNDER after scoring 3 goals or more in 5 straight games.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 49-48 (-17.7 units) on the moneyline vs. division opponents. 19-26 (-12.3 units) on the moneyline revenging a close loss vs opponent of 1 goal or less. 6-2 UNDER off 2 consecutive close losses by 1 goal to a division rival. 6-2 UNDER after allowing 3 goals or more in 5 straight games.

Florida Panthers:  S. Bennett (C) Ques Thurs - Upper Body. R. Lomberg (LW) Ques Thurs - Illness.

Tampa Bay Lightning:  H. Fleury (D) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed. J. Johansson (G) Early May - Lower Body. M. Sergachev (D) Early May - Leg. B. Seabrook (D) out for season - Shoulder. L. Brown (C) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed.

“It just takes one shot in these moments.” - Carter Verhaeghe after their win against the Lightning in game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately for us, we're finding ourselves behind in both games. It's a tough league to come back in, especially in the playoffs." - Jon Cooper after his team’s loss against the Panthers in game 2 of this series on Tuesday.

LW Tarasenko, Vladimir

C Barkov, Aleksander

RW Reinhart, Sam

LD Forsling, Gustav

RD Ekblad, Aaron

G Bobrovsky, Sergei

LW Duclair, Anthony

C Point, Brayden

RW Kucherov, Nikita

LD Hedman, Victor

RD Raddysh, Darren

G Vasilevskiy, Andrei

Points: S. Reinhart (94)

Goals: S. Reinhart (57)

Assists: M. Tkachuk (62)

GAA: A.Stolarz (2.03)

Points: N. Kucherov (144)

Goals: B. Point (46)

Assists: N. Kucherov (100)

GAA: A. Vasilevskiy (2.90)

Coaches:

Florida Panthers: Paul Maurice (2nd season)

Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper (12th season)