The first-round series in the NHL playoffs between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers shifts to Tampa for Game 3 on Thursday. The Panthers, one of the NHL picks to win the Stanley Cup, won Game 2 by a score of 3-2 in overtime to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Tampa has beat the Panthers twice in the playoffs in recent years and will likely need a win in Game 3 if they’re going to win another series in the Panthers vs Lightning score prediction.
Panthers vs Lightning Picks
- Pick: Tampa Bay -115
Sergei Bobrovsky (2.37 GAA, .915 save percentage) is expected to start in goal for the Panthers, while Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.90 GAA, .900 save percentage) is the projected starting goaltender for the Lightning. Let’s take a look at the Lightning vs Panthers betting tips for Game 3.
Panthers’ Defense vs. Lightning’s Offense: Build Today’s picks and parlays with MLB matchups Analysis!
Panthers vs Lightning Odds
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Information
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Location of the game: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
Date & Time: Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ESPN and Sportsnet (Canada)
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Recent Scores
Florida won its last four games on the NHL schedule in the regular season and have now won six consecutive NHL games after winning the first two games in the Panthers vs Lightning score prediction. They won both games 3-2. Carter Verhaeghe scored the overtime winner in Game 2. Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 23 shots faced and Vasilevskiy stopped 34 of 37 shots faced for the Lightning.
Tampa Bay was 4-5-1 in its last 10 games before the playoffs and finished fourth in the NHL standings for the Atlantic Division. Florida finished first in the division.
Last Game Records
Florida
For the Panthers score prediction, Florida Panters is 4-1 in its last five regular season games against the Lightning. While they’ve won the first two games of this series, they lost five consecutive playoff games to Tampa Bay previously.
Tampa Bay
The Lightning haven’t had much success against Florida in the regular season as of late, but coming into the Panthers vs Lightning score prediction for this series they lost just once in nine playoff games in 2021 and 2022 to the Panthers. They won six of those eight games by at least two goals.
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
Panthers Hoping for 3-0 Series Lead
Given that they’ve only won once in nine prior games against the Lightning in the playoffs, Florida has to be thrilled with its start to the series. They have a chance to take a commanding 3-0 lead on Thursday, but should be prepared for an offensive onslaught from Tampa Bay, which had just 19 shots in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2. Fortunately, Florida ranked first among NHL teams in goals allowed (2.41) during the regular season. They were also third in shots allowed (27.8).
Florida ranked 11th in goals (3.23) and second in shots (33.7). The team’s leading scorer, Sam Reinhart, has one goal through the first two games of the series. He finished second ain the regular season in NHL player stats for goals with 57. Sam Bennett left Game 2 with an apparent hand injury and will miss Game 3. He’s expected to be on the NHL injury report for at least a week.
Lightning One of the Best Teams at Home This Season
Tampa Bay had the ninth-best home record among NHL teams in 2023-24 and have won four of their last five playoff home games against the Panthers, outscoring them by a margin of 18-7. They were third in goals (3.51) this season, but averaged 3.8 in 41 home games. Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning’s leading scorer in the regular season with 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists) has been relatively quiet with just two assists through the first two games of the series.
Mikhail Sergachev and Haydn Fleury are on the NHL injury report for the Lightning.
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Odds Breakdown
Tampa Bay is only a slight betting favorite in the Panthers vs Lightning score prediction with -115 moneyline odds and -1.5 (+190) puck line odds. The Panthers have NHL Vegas odds of -105 for the moneyline and +1.5 (-265) for the puck line.
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Pick and Prediction
- Final Score Prediction: Lightning 4-2
- Pick: Tampa Bay -115
Discover the latest stats and trends of this matchup here:
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter . Sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks. Make sure to visit the best offshore betting sites to maximize your betting experience.
