The Tampa Bay Lightning (0-3-0) are ready to travel to Sunrise for their matchup against the Florida Panthers (1-3-0) at FLA Live Arena on Thursday night.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are having a surprisingly very bad preseason, as they have only recorded one win.
The Panthers are also having a bad preseason as they look to bond chemistry between their all-stars. This should be an interesting matchup on the NHL schedule come Tuesday night.
The Panthers and the Lightning will see each other many times during the regular season, as the battle for Florida is always a very exciting game.
Panthers and Lightning Last Records
The Lighting are currently on a two-game losing streak after their recent loss against the Nashville Predators 7-1.
The Panthers, on the other hand, are on a three-game losing streak and are coming off a 3-1 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes
Lighting vs. Panthers Matchup Information
- Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
- Venue: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Florida
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Betting Analysis
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been playing very bad hockey during the preseason, and this matchup against the Panthers on Thursday will be a very tough matchup for them.
The Lightning recently lost to the Nashville Predators to extend their losing streak to three games. Where to even start with this Tampa Bay Lightning team?
The Lightning had an outstanding season last year where they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final and fell to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Lightning have played more hockey than any other team in the last three years, and many of their stars are resting during this pre-season.
Lightning Led Up by Stamkos and Kucherov
The Lightning are led up front by forwards Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, who have both shown they have no problem putting the puck in the back of the net.
On the back end, former Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman is their man, and between the pipes, they have former Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevsky.
The Lightning are set to have another incredible season, and it will not surprise me if they find the cup final again.
They did lose a bit of depth, losing Palat up front and Mcdonough on the back end, but they are still a cup-contending team. Lighting betting stats show the team had one of the best defenses in the NHL last season.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are hoping for better results in the upcoming season after an extremely disappointing season last year.
The Panthers led the regular season in wins but failed to make it past the second round of the playoffs. In my opinion, the Panthers have one of the most talented cores in the league and making the playoffs should be no issue for this squad.
Panthers’ Solid Moves
The Panthers made a few solid moves this off-season, and one of those moves included signing Matthew Tkachuk from the Calgary Flames.
Tkachuk was a force on the Flames, as he had over 100 points last season. On the back end, the Panthers have defenseman Aaron Ekblad and, in the net, Spencer Knight and Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Panthers could be a cup contender with the core they have, but they need to experience a deep run into the playoffs.
The Panthers do not have loads of experience in that department, but I see them making a run at the cup this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs.Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Panthers betting odds as the underdogs at home are +108, while the away Lightning are -126. The over/under is set at 5.5. On the puck line, Panthers +1.5 goals is listed at -260, and the Lightning -1.5 goals is +205.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Betting Prediction
My prediction is that the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to win this contest, and that is why I am taking the money line pick in this matchup.
The Lightning will win this matchup because they are returning some of their stars to the lineup, and they are a much deeper team than the Panthers.
NHL Pick: Lightning (-126)
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