Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Game 3 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Panthers seized a commanding 2-0 series lead with Thursday’s 2-0 victory in Tampa Bay and have now topped the Lightning in six of seven playoff dates since last spring. Thursday’s defeat marked the Lightning’s second shutout loss in three games and seventh defeat in their past 10 overall including losses in three of four road contests.
The Panthers return home perched as -140 favourites on Saturday’s Game 3 odds and have vaulted to massive -650 chalk on the NHL playoff series prices and a +190 bet to sweep this series in four games. The Lightning trail as -118 road underdogs and now trail as a distant +475 wager to rebound and win this series. The total for Saturday’s contest is pegged at 5.5.
Lightning vs. Panthers NHL Betting Odds
The scoring woes that contributed to a late-season swoon now threatens to end the Lightning’s playoff run early for a second straight year. Tampa Bay has scored just two total goals during the club’s current three-game slide and just 2.80 goals per game while losing seven of 10. The Lightning have also been limited to two or fewer goals five times while losing six of seven playoff games to Florida, and also five times while falling to defeat in five of their past seven visits to South Florida.
The Panthers’ strong start to the series has allayed concerns after the club struggled down the stretch. Indeed, the Panthers are hoping to enjoy some more of the home cooking that has lifted them to victory in 15 of their past 18 appearances at Amerant Bank Arena.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The choice of many pundits to claim the Eastern Conference crown for the fourth time in six years, the Lightning now find themselves in must-win mode entering Game 3. With just 41 total shots on goal over the first two game and Sergei Bobrovsky flashing vintage form in the Florida crease, the Lightning have failed to cash in on limited opportunities.
The NHL’s leading point getter during the regular season, Nikita Kucherov has been limited to just one assists and only three shots on goal through the first two games of the series and just one goal over his past seven playoff game appearances versus Florida. Brandon Hagel has yet to record a point in the series and is now seven games into a goalscoring drought. In addition, Hagel has been held off the scoresheet in five of six versus the Panthers this season.
Florida Panthers
Nate Schmidt once again emerged as the hero in Game 2, opening the scoring just 4:12 into the contest, which proved to be the game-winner. Schmidt has now tallied three goals in the series, ending a 22-game scoring drought but has not recorded points in three straight games since January 2024.
Aleksander Barkov has set up three of the Panthers’ eight total goals so far in the series and Matthew Tkachuk has potted a pair of goals in his return from injury. However, Tkachuk recorded no points and just one shot on net while enjoying just 13:31 of ice time on Thursday night.
The biggest story in Florida remains the steady play of Sergei Bobrovsky. The veteran netminder has compiled a gleaming .951 save percentage so far in the series and has been a dominant presence on home ice in recent postseason action, limiting opponents to two or fewer goals 14 times while backstopping the Panthers to victory in 14 of their past 20.
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