Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Series Prediction, NHL Odds
The Florida Panthers are trying to win a playoff series for the first time since 1996, when they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, but they won’t have an easy task against Tampa Bay. After combining for 154 penalty minutes, four fighting majors, 10 misconduct penalties and six roughing minors in a 5-1 Florida win over the Lightning last Saturday, you can expect the sparks to fly in this series. Under the intense pressure of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, things will likely only get rougher between these cross-state rivals.
Despite finishing four points behind Florida in the regular season standings, the Lightning opened as -158 favourites to win the series on the NHL Futures Board.
Panthers vs. Lightning Betting Analysis
The Panthers got the best of Tampa Bay in the regular season, winning five of eight meetings. Florida has won the last three games between these teams, including a pair of wins on May 8 and 10, during which the Panthers outscored the Lightning a combined 9-1. These teams have averaged 41:59 in penalty minutes over their eight games this season and the Over has hit five times.
Over the last few years, the Lightning have been successful on the road against Florida, winning 12 of their last 16 games at BB&T Center. Tampa wasn’t a great cover option in the regular season, going 24-32 against the spread and only covering nine times on the road. The Bolts have hit the Over in seven of their last 10 road games against the Panthers.
Florida is coming into this series on a hot streak, ending the regular season with six straight wins overall and 11 wins in their last 12 home games. The Cats were an even 28-28 ATS this season, covering in 16 of 28 home games. Florida hit the Over in eight of their final 12 regular season games.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay is getting big time reinforcements for this game, as Nikita Kucherov and captain Steven Stamkos are expected to be ready for Game 1. Kucherov missed the entire regular season after undergoing hip surgery, but he has been skating as a full participant in practice and the plan was always for him to return in time for the playoffs. He led the NHL in playoff scoring last year with 34 points (7G, 27A). Stamkos will return after missing the last 16 games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. At the time of his injury, Stamkos led the Lightning in goals (17) and was tied for second in points (34). Because of injuries to both players over the last two seasons, Kucherov and Stamkos will skate together on the power play for the first time in 14 months.
Defensively, Tampa Bay has potentially the best goalie in the world, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and the best defenceman, Victor Hedman. Vasilevskiy is a top candidate to win his second career Vezina Trophy this year. The 26-year-old goalie finished the regular season with 31 wins and five shutouts with a 2.21 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. Hedman is expected to play Game 1, after missing the final two games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Last year’s Conn Smythe winner led the Lightning in average ice time per game (25:03) this year and was tied for the third-highest scoring defenceman in the NHL with 45 points (9G, 36A).
Florida Panthers
The Panthers ended the season hot. They won 11 of their last 14 regular season games and won the last three games against Tampa by a combined score of 14-4. Jonathan Huberdeau has been a big part of Florida’s success this year. Huberdeau led the team with 61 points (20G, 41A) and has 38 career points (13G, 25A) against the Lightning. He put up seven points (3G, 4A) against the Bolts this season and he recorded 19 points (6G, 13A) over Florida’s final 13 regular season games.
The goaltending situation is the interesting thing about this team right now. The Panthers are carrying three goalies into the playoffs and starter Sergei Bobrovsky doesn’t seem to have a very long leash. Bobrovsky was 19-8-2 this year with 2.91 GAA and .906 SV, but backup Chris Driedger took over the reigns at times in the regular season. Driedger (14-6-3, 2.07 GAA, .927 SV) isn’t Bobrovsky’s only competition. Rookie Spencer Knight looked great in his inaugural campaign, finishing with a 4-0-0 record and posting a 2.32 GAA and .919 SV.
NHL Series Prediction: Who Will Win Lightning vs. Panthers?
Florida has taken a big jump this year and they look like they’re becoming a powerhouse in the East. While it’s tempting to pick them to win this series and they very well could, there just seems to be too much talent and playoff experience on Tampa Bay’s roster. The Bolts are going to win this series in seven games.