by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Feb 06, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
Where to watch: BSSUN, BSFL, TVAS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Lightning -125, Panthers +105
FanDuel: Lightning -125, Panthers +104
BetMGM: Lightning -125, Panthers +105
Caesars: Lightning -125, Panthers +105
Season record
Lightning: 32-15-1
Panthers: 24-22-6
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Lightning - Panthers preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Lightning: won 5-2 vs. Kings
Panthers: won 4-3 (OT) vs. Bruins
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing the Florida Panthers on Monday, February 6 in Sunrise, Florida.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, January 28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida with a score of 5-2. The Tampa Bay Lightning currently rank 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
The Tampa Bay Lightning set a franchise record with their 12th consecutive home win. Nick Perbix had three assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves for the Lightning (32-15-1), who have won three in a row, all at home, and played their final game before the NHL All-Star break.
Tampa Bay defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Tuesday and the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Thursday.
"It was three tough teams to play in this league -- big, strong, fast playoff teams, and our guys handled it well," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "If there was a little bit of worry it was after a big win against the Bruins, and our impending break, how would we handle this game and would we look past it. They didn't and they got the points we needed."
Brayden Point gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 5:02 of the first period when he scored in front after Nikita Kucherov fed him from behind the net.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare made it 2-0 at 6:21 from the high slot after Perbix picked off a pass near the right boards.
"At times it's a challenge for [the fourth line] to try to create some offense," Bellemare said. "But it's not just about the goals. To be able to play at the end of the game and have the coaches trust us to do the right thing, that's something you want to be able to bring. Sometimes you get rewarded for doing the right things."
Bellemare said that his mother died this week and that "she would've been proud" of his goal.
"When 'Belly' scored you saw how excited everybody was," Cooper said. "That's what makes the room great. The guys are all pulling for each other. There's life outside of this game we play, and we have a close-knit group that's there for each other."
Corey Perry pushed the Lightning lead to 3-1 at 15:57. Perbix's shot from the point deflected off the stick of Los Angeles defenseman Matt Roy, and Perry scored from low in the left circle.
Ross Colton extended it to 4-1 at 15:20 of the second period when he scored over Quick's outstretched right pad from in close.
"The leaders were pretty vocal about us coming to work and handling our business," Colton said. "We got really hyped up for the Boston game and getting those two points was huge. Then I think we just rode the momentum into tonight."
Victor Hedman scored on a point shot through traffic at 16:03 of the third period for the 5-2 final.
Lightning center Steven Stamkos had an assist on Hedman's goal to extend his point streak to 11 games. He has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) during the streak.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won eight of their last 10 games.
The Florida Panthers won against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, January 28 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida with a score of [score]. The Florida Panthers currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division.
Sam Reinhart scored 17 seconds into overtime after Aleksander Barkov tied the game with three seconds left in the third period for the Panthers. Reinhart scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Barkov, who tied it 3-3 after a point shot from Aaron Ekblad ricocheted off Brandon Carlo to him in the left circle. Barkov's goal came after David Pastrnak gave Boston a 3-2 lead with a wrist shot from above the circles with 49 seconds remaining in the third.
"I think [we] were due for a game like this and were due a result like this all season. They just haven't quit," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "It was the hardest part of the season, and they kept getting kicked in the teeth and wouldn't quit. You want it for them so bad. We deserved that a bunch of nights this season and just didn't get it.''
Matthew Tkachuk had two assists, and Alex Lyon made 38 saves for the Panthers (24-22-6), who had lost three straight, including 4-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
"That was a massive challenge, but we know what we have, and that is a phenomenal hockey team," said Lyon, who was making his fifth straight start. "The last game before [the All-Star] break is always tough, a back-to-back, but the guys kept going. This is why you play the game right there."
"I think that's a very important game for us, to show the confidence in this group," Panthers forward Sam Bennett said. "That was a massive win against a very good team. The boys are definitely happy with that one. I would have had some nightmares if we didn't get the win tonight. It was nice we got the win.''
The Florida Panthers have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Perhaps All-Star weekend being in Sunrise may have allowed the Panthers to refresh and reset. Or maybe they'll come out flat against the Lightning because of course they would. Lightning 4, Panthers 3
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be playing the Florida Panthers on Monday, February 6 in Sunrise, Florida.
The Tampa Bay Lightning won against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, January 28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida with a score of 5-2. The Tampa Bay Lightning currently rank 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
The Tampa Bay Lightning set a franchise record with their 12th consecutive home win. Nick Perbix had three assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves for the Lightning (32-15-1), who have won three in a row, all at home, and played their final game before the NHL All-Star break.
Tampa Bay defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Tuesday and the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Thursday.
"It was three tough teams to play in this league -- big, strong, fast playoff teams, and our guys handled it well," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "If there was a little bit of worry it was after a big win against the Bruins, and our impending break, how would we handle this game and would we look past it. They didn't and they got the points we needed."
Brayden Point gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 5:02 of the first period when he scored in front after Nikita Kucherov fed him from behind the net.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare made it 2-0 at 6:21 from the high slot after Perbix picked off a pass near the right boards.
"At times it's a challenge for [the fourth line] to try to create some offense," Bellemare said. "But it's not just about the goals. To be able to play at the end of the game and have the coaches trust us to do the right thing, that's something you want to be able to bring. Sometimes you get rewarded for doing the right things."
Bellemare said that his mother died this week and that "she would've been proud" of his goal.
"When 'Belly' scored you saw how excited everybody was," Cooper said. "That's what makes the room great. The guys are all pulling for each other. There's life outside of this game we play, and we have a close-knit group that's there for each other."
Corey Perry pushed the Lightning lead to 3-1 at 15:57. Perbix's shot from the point deflected off the stick of Los Angeles defenseman Matt Roy, and Perry scored from low in the left circle.
Ross Colton extended it to 4-1 at 15:20 of the second period when he scored over Quick's outstretched right pad from in close.
"The leaders were pretty vocal about us coming to work and handling our business," Colton said. "We got really hyped up for the Boston game and getting those two points was huge. Then I think we just rode the momentum into tonight."
Victor Hedman scored on a point shot through traffic at 16:03 of the third period for the 5-2 final.
Lightning center Steven Stamkos had an assist on Hedman's goal to extend his point streak to 11 games. He has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) during the streak.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have won eight of their last 10 games.
The Florida Panthers won against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, January 28 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida with a score of [score]. The Florida Panthers currently rank 5th in the Atlantic Division.
Sam Reinhart scored 17 seconds into overtime after Aleksander Barkov tied the game with three seconds left in the third period for the Panthers. Reinhart scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Barkov, who tied it 3-3 after a point shot from Aaron Ekblad ricocheted off Brandon Carlo to him in the left circle. Barkov's goal came after David Pastrnak gave Boston a 3-2 lead with a wrist shot from above the circles with 49 seconds remaining in the third.
"I think [we] were due for a game like this and were due a result like this all season. They just haven't quit," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "It was the hardest part of the season, and they kept getting kicked in the teeth and wouldn't quit. You want it for them so bad. We deserved that a bunch of nights this season and just didn't get it.''
Matthew Tkachuk had two assists, and Alex Lyon made 38 saves for the Panthers (24-22-6), who had lost three straight, including 4-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on Friday.
"That was a massive challenge, but we know what we have, and that is a phenomenal hockey team," said Lyon, who was making his fifth straight start. "The last game before [the All-Star] break is always tough, a back-to-back, but the guys kept going. This is why you play the game right there."
"I think that's a very important game for us, to show the confidence in this group," Panthers forward Sam Bennett said. "That was a massive win against a very good team. The boys are definitely happy with that one. I would have had some nightmares if we didn't get the win tonight. It was nice we got the win.''
The Florida Panthers have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Perhaps All-Star weekend being in Sunrise may have allowed the Panthers to refresh and reset. Or maybe they'll come out flat against the Lightning because of course they would. Lightning 4, Panthers 3
Betting trends
Lightning are 15-6 after a non-conference game this season.
Lightning are 5-13 after winning 8 of 10 the past 3 seasons.
Lightning are 39-17 off a home win by two goals or more the past 3 seasons.
Panthers are 4-9 after a division game this season.
Panthers are 7-16 revenging a loss as a favorite this season.
Projected lines
Lightning:
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Anthony Cirelli -- Steven Stamkos -- Alex Killorn
Ross Colton -- Nicholas Paul -- Pat Maroon
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry
Victor Hedman -- Zach Bogosian
Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix
Ian Cole -- Erik Cernak
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Anthony Cirelli -- Steven Stamkos -- Alex Killorn
Ross Colton -- Nicholas Paul -- Pat Maroon
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry
Victor Hedman -- Zach Bogosian
Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix
Ian Cole -- Erik Cernak
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Panthers:
Sam Reinhart -- Aleksander Barkov -- Anton Lundell
Matthew Tkachuk -- Sam Bennett -- Carter Verhaeghe
Nick Cousins -- Chris Tierney -- Eetu Luostarinen
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Alex Lyon
Sam Reinhart -- Aleksander Barkov -- Anton Lundell
Matthew Tkachuk -- Sam Bennett -- Carter Verhaeghe
Nick Cousins -- Chris Tierney -- Eetu Luostarinen
Ryan Lomberg -- Eric Staal -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Alex Lyon
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
