The Panthers failed to complete the sweep in Game 4, dropping a 6-3 decision to the Lightning on Saturday. In addition to cutting their series lead to 3-1, Saturday’s defeat also put the brakes on an impressive seven-game win streak. While the Lightning extended the series with one of their best performances in recent weeks, they still have work to do to flip the script on a dismal 3-7 run, during which they have failed to record consecutive wins and lost four straight on the road.

The Panthers have emerged as solid -185 favourites on the NHL Game 5 odds to wrap things up on Monday. Florida is also pegged as heavy -1600 chalk on the NHL series prices and enters Monday’s action knotted with Edmonton as +500 co-second favourite on the Stanley Cup odds. The Lightning trail as +155 underdogs on the Monday NHL odds, and remain a distant +900 bet to rebound to win the series. The total for Monday’s contest is pegged at 6.5.

Lightning vs. Panthers NHL Playoff Betting Odds

The Lightning got some much-needed offensive production in Saturday’s 6-3 win after scoring just seven total goals over the first three games of the series. However, they must now prove they can maintain that momentum on the road, where they have averaged just 2.50 goals scored per game during their four-game slide. Goals have also come at a premium in recent visits to Florida, where the Bolts have averaged just 2.50 goals scored over their past six visits and have scored more than two goals just once in their past five playoff dates, extending the current run for the UNDER in totals betting to six games. While the Panthers are coming off their weakest defensive performance in a dozen games, they remain a dominant force at home, where they have won seven straight while allowing just 10 total goals.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning scored early and often in Saturday’s Game 4 matchup, seizing a 3-0 first-period lead after failing to score in the opening frame since Game 1. Steven Stamkos once again led the Bolts attack with a pair of goals and has now tallied five markers in the series and 23 total points while failing to make it onto the scoresheet just once in his past 14 games. And with three of his five goals to date coming on the power play, the Lightning captain is an intriguing option on the NHL player props, sporting +210 odds to pick up at least a point with the extra man on Monday night. 

Florida Panthers

Matthew Tkachuk remained the bright spot on a disappointing Saturday night for the Panthers. With a pair of assists, Tkachuk has now recorded two points in four of his past five outings and 11 points during a seven-game points streak. However, things have not gone as well for Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers captain has picked up just two assists in the series including just one at even strength, and has failed to find the back of the net in eight straight games. 

Game 5 Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Panthers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lightning Team Leaders

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 144
+ / -	Victor Hedman 18
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 306
Penalty Mins	Michael Eyssimont 104
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 30
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.9

FLA

Points	Sam Reinhart 94
+ / -	Gustav Forsling 56
Shots	Matthew Tkachuk 280
Penalty Mins	Jonah Gadjovich 104
Wins	Sergei Bobrovsky 36
GAA	Anthony Stolarz 2.03

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 7
+ / -	Nick Perbix 0
Shots	Steven Stamkos 15
Penalty Mins	Nicholas Paul 6
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 1
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 3.22

FLA

Points	Aleksander Barkov 22
+ / -	Gustav Forsling 9
Shots	Matthew Tkachuk 83
Penalty Mins	Matthew Tkachuk 31
Wins	Sergei Bobrovsky 16
GAA	Sergei Bobrovsky 2.32

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Panthers Team Leaders

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 144
+ / -	Victor Hedman 18
Shots	Nikita Kucherov 306
Penalty Mins	Michael Eyssimont 104
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 30
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 2.9

FLA

Points	Sam Reinhart 94
+ / -	Gustav Forsling 56
Shots	Matthew Tkachuk 280
Penalty Mins	Jonah Gadjovich 104
Wins	Sergei Bobrovsky 36
GAA	Anthony Stolarz 2.03

TB

Points	Nikita Kucherov 7
+ / -	Nick Perbix 0
Shots	Steven Stamkos 15
Penalty Mins	Nicholas Paul 6
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy 1
GAA	Andrei Vasilevskiy 3.22

FLA

Points	Aleksander Barkov 22
+ / -	Gustav Forsling 9
Shots	Matthew Tkachuk 83
Penalty Mins	Matthew Tkachuk 31
Wins	Sergei Bobrovsky 16
GAA	Sergei Bobrovsky 2.32

Injuries

Tampa Bay

Darren Raddysh (D)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 28 / 04 / 24

Victor Hedman (D)

Ques Sun Illness - 17 / 04 / 24

Luke Glendening (C)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 16 / 04 / 24

Tyler Motte (C)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 24

Anthony Duclair (LW)

Ques Sat Illness - 11 / 04 / 24

Haydn Fleury (D)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 24

Anthony Cirelli (C)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24

Brandon Hagel (LW)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24

Tanner Jeannot (LW)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 04 / 04 / 24

Jonas Johansson (G)

Early May Lower Body - 01 / 04 / 24

Florida

Aleksander Barkov (C)

Prob Thurs Upper Body - 11 / 06 / 24

Sam Bennett (C)

Mid May Upper Body - 23 / 04 / 24

Ryan Lomberg (LW)

Out indefinitely Illness - 23 / 04 / 24

Aleksander Barkov (C)

Prob Tues Undisclosed - 15 / 04 / 24

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)

Prob Sun Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 24

Steven Lorentz (C)

Ques Tues Illness - 06 / 04 / 24

Aaron Ekblad (D)

Prob Sun Lower Body - 02 / 04 / 24

Matthew Tkachuk (LW)

Prob Thurs Illness - 02 / 04 / 24

Carter Verhaeghe (C)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 02 / 04 / 24

Gustav Forsling (D)

Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 24

Injuries

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Darren Raddysh (D)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 28 / 04 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Raddysh is dealing with an unknown injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against the Panthers for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Victor Hedman (D)	Ques Sun	Illness - 17 / 04 / 24	4-2	3-2-1	+ -
Hedman has an illness, and it is unclear if he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Panthers.
Luke Glendening (C)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 16 / 04 / 24	4-2	3-2-1	+ -
Glendening has a shoulder injury, but he is expected to take part in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Panthers.
Tyler Motte (C)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 12 / 04 / 24	4-4	3-3-2	+ -
Motte is nursing a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will face the Panthers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Anthony Duclair (LW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 11 / 04 / 24	5-4	4-3-2	+ -
Duclair missed the last game with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will suit up Saturday versus the Capitals.
Haydn Fleury (D)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 06 / 04 / 24	6-5	6-3-2	+ -
Fleury is idle with an unspecified ailment, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Anthony Cirelli (C)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24	7-5	6-4-2	+ -
Cirelli missed the last contest with an unknown injury, but it is likely that he will face the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Brandon Hagel (LW)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 04 / 04 / 24	7-5	6-4-2	+ -
Hagel was lifted from the previous clash with an unspecified ailment, but it is expected that he will suit up Saturday versus the Penguins.
Tanner Jeannot (LW)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 04 / 04 / 24	7-5	6-4-2	+ -
Jeannot has been absent from the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Tuesday's battle with the Blue Jackets.
Jonas Johansson (G)	Early May	Lower Body - 01 / 04 / 24	8-6	6-6-2	+ -
Johansson is sidelined with a lower-body injury, and he will remain idle until at least the beginning of May.

Florida

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Aleksander Barkov (C)	Prob Thurs	Upper Body - 11 / 06 / 24	2-3	4-1	+ -
Barkov was removed from the game with an upper body injury, but he will be available versus the the Oilers in Game 3 of the Conference Final.
Sam Bennett (C)	Mid May	Upper Body - 23 / 04 / 24	8-15	11-12	+ -
Bennett is sidelined with an upper-body injury, and he will remain out of the lineup until the middle of May.
Ryan Lomberg (LW)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 23 / 04 / 24	8-15	11-12	+ -
Lomberg out of commission with an illness, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Aleksander Barkov (C)	Prob Tues	Undisclosed - 15 / 04 / 24	9-16	12-13	+ -
Barkov is managing an undefined ailment, but it is expected that he will be in Tuesday's lineup versus the Maple Leafs.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)	Prob Sun	Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 24	10-16	12-14	+ -
Ekman-Larsson is battling an upper-body injury, but he is expected to be available against the Lightning for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Steven Lorentz (C)	Ques Tues	Illness - 06 / 04 / 24	13-16	12-16-1	+ -
Lorentz was held out of the previous game due to an illness, and it is unknown if he will be available for Tuesday's showdown versus the Senators.
Aaron Ekblad (D)	Prob Sun	Lower Body - 02 / 04 / 24	13-18	14-16-1	+ -
Ekblad has been sidelined with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to return to the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Lightning.
Matthew Tkachuk (LW)	Prob Thurs	Illness - 02 / 04 / 24	13-18	14-16-1	+ -
Tkachuk missed the last contest due to illness, but it is predicted that he will suit up in Thursday's tilt with the Senators.
Carter Verhaeghe (C)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 02 / 04 / 24	13-18	14-16-1	+ -
Verhaeghe is sidelined with an upper-body injury, and his status going forward is week-to-week.
Gustav Forsling (D)	Prob Tues	Illness - 23 / 03 / 24	15-22	16-20-1	+ -
Forsling has missed the last two games due to illness, but it is forecasted that he will face the Bruins on Tuesday.