Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 2 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Panthers drew first blood in the series with a decisive 6-2 victory in Tuesday’s Game 1 matchup, which also marked the first time this club has scored more than four goals in a game in almost three months. Tuesday’s defeat extended a worrisome season-ending swoon that has seen the Lightning post just three wins in their past nine games.
The Lightning return to action as slim -125 favourites on the Thursday NHL odds but have tumbled to +180 underdogs on the NHL playoff series prices in the wake of their Game 1 defeat. The Panthers are pegged as a +105 bet to claim a 2-0 series lead and have vaulted to -220 chalk to win the series. The total for Thursday’s contest is 5.5.
Panthers vs. Lightning NHL Betting Odds
The Lightning came out flat in the series opener, spotting the Panthers an early 2-1 lead that proved insurmountable in the highest scoring meeting between these clubs this season. But while low scoring has been commonplace when these rivals meet in regular season action, there has been no shortage of goals when they meet in the NHL playoffs, with and average of eight total goals per game getting scored in their past four postseason dates.
Tuesday’s offensive outburst also reversed a worrisome trend for the Panthers, who had potted just 2.09 goals per game over their final 11 regular season contests and just 1.64 goals per game over their preceding 11 road dates. For Tampa Bay, Tuesday’s loss extends a dismal postseason that dates back to the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, with the Lightning falling to defeat in 13 of their past 18 overall playoff games.
Florida Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk played an enormous role in his return from injury in Game 1, scoring a pair of power play goals that put the game out of reach. Tkachuk also added an assist in his return from a lower-body injury that had sidelined him since the 4 Nations Face-Off and has racked up five goals and seven helpers in six postseason dates versus Tampa Bay since the start of last season’s playoffs.
Rearguard Nate Schmidt also contributed a pair of goals while Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett each tallied a goal and an assist. However, goals at even strength continue to come at a premium for the Panthers, who have tallied just 1.64 goals per game over their past 13 contests.
Tampa Bay Lightning
It proved to be a brutal night for goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who turned aside just 11 of the 17 shots he faced in Tuesday’s Game 1 loss and has now surrendered at least four goals in three of his past four home appearances. The Bolts’ penalty kill didn’t provide much support, going 0-for-3 on the night. Overall, Tampa Bay’s special teams have allowed at least one power play or shorthanded goal in nine of their past 10 games.
Jake Guentzel provided a spark for the Lightning, tallying six of the club’s 22 shots on goal on the night including one goal and has now scored four goals over the past four games and 13 total goals over his past 11 home appearances and is an attractive +180 bet on the NHL player props to score anytime on Thursday night.
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