Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Game 2 Prediction, NHL Odds
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Nik Kowalski
The encore to arguably the NHL’s best game of the 2021 calendar year goes Tuesday night when the Tampa Bay Lightning look to head home with a 2-0 series advantage over their interstate rival Florida Panthers.
The Lightning took a thrilling Game 1 by a 5-4 score as Brayden Point scored two goals in the final seven minutes including a breakaway tally with just 74 seconds to go. Playoff hockey is alive and well in the Sunshine State; Game 2’s puck drop goes at 7 p.m. EST.
Lightning vs. Panthers Betting Analysis
Game 1 saw both teams snap their own streaks as Tampa Bay collected their first win in their last four games and Florida’s six-game win streak come to an end. The Lightning also found the back of the net with ease after scoring just once in their last two games against the Panthers combined.
Tampa’s star trio of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman made all the difference in their respective returns from injuries. Kucherov scored twice and added an assist, Stamkos recorded two helpers, and Hedman had a game-high three apples in the win.
The Lightning are a -130 road favourite to win on the NHL odds for Game 2, while the total’s set at 6.0. The over has hit in 15 of the last 20 Tampa Bay – Florida games.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning looked like a $98 million team on Sunday, which is the cap they’re playing at this post-season. Kucherov didn’t miss a beat after missing the entire regular season due to hip surgery — he even picked up a roughing penalty just three minutes in.
Tampa Bay’s a four-line juggernaut on paper but only seven players found the scoreboard in Game 1. Blake Coleman scored Tampa’s first goal (followed by two Kucherov and Point goals each), Yanni Gourde and Ryan McDonagh (x2) picked up assists, and then Stamkos and Hedman each had their multi-point showings.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 35 saves on 39 shots against and came up huge in the key moments.
Florida Panthers
Despite losing Game 1, the Panthers made a serious statement to the hockey world: they finished ahead of Tampa Bay for a reason, and they’re not going to be an easy out.
Jonathan Huberdeau was his usual self with a three-point night (one goal, two assists) including a highlight-reel assist on Florida’s fourth goal — Owen Tippett’s first career Stanley Cup Playoffs goal. Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist too, and former Lightning Carter Verhaeghe found the twine for his first playoff goal.
The difference in Game 1 came down to special teams. Tampa Bay converted on three of four power plays, including a tying goal in the third period after an undisciplined penalty from Sam Bennett, who was suspended one game (boarding) for the hit.
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