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Lightning vs Panthers Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

Sunshine State Hockey Rivals Square Off

Panthers Looking to Take Next Step

It can’t be easy to be known as the “other” NHL team in the state of Florida.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning are the first team since the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers to reach the Stanley Cup Final in three seasons in a row, the Panthers haven’t played for the NHL title since 1996.

Lightning vs Panthers Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

Last season, Florida finished 12 points ahead of Tampa Bay and was favored when the teams met in the playoffs, only to see a more experienced Lightning squad win the series in four games. This will be the first meeting since Tampa Bay completed the sweep.

According to the NHL playoff odds, Florida (+1000) is tied for third in the odds to win the Stanley Cup while the Lightning (+1400) are tied for sixth.

Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports and NHL lines for Lightning vs Panthers. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.

Stamkos off to Roaring Start for Lightning

It hasn’t been the easiest of starts to the season for the perennial Eastern Conference contending Tampa Bay Lightning. However, it is hard to lay too much of the blame on captain Steven Stamkos.

Stamkos has at least one goal in each of the first four games as he leads the NHL with six goals. Four of his six goals have come on the power play.

Stamkos is coming off a 42-goal season, his sixth season with at least 40 goals, and his 106 points were a career-high so his early offensive barrage is hardly a surprise. Stamkos had three goals and two assists in four games against the Panthers a season ago and will look to light the lamp against the in-state rivals on Friday.

The Las Vegas odds total went over in five of Tampa Bay’s last seven games,

Newcomers Making Immediate Impact with Panthers

After a strong regular season followed by an early exit in the postseason, Florida did not stand pat.

Jonathan Huberdeau was part of a deal that brought Matthew Tkachuk from Calgary to Florida and former Ottawa first-round pick Colin White was signed as a free agent.

During Florida’s 3-1 start, Tkachuk leads the team with six points while White is close behind with four points.

They join former Lightning forward Carter Verhaeghe as the team leaders with two goals.

Seven different forwards have at least two points and that is going to be a key moving forward for Florida as multiple lines will be expected to contribute offensively.

Something to consider for those who bet online: Florida has won 14 of the last 18 home games.

Lightning vs Panthers Game Injuries

Lightning vs Panthers Head-to-Head

Tampa Bay has won the last four games as the Lightning swept a Florida team that led the NHL with 122 points during the regular season during the second round of the playoffs. Tampa Bay would reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Nikita Kucherov led the Lightning with five assists and seven points in the series while Andrei Vasilevskiy won all four games and had a goals-against average of 0.75. The only Florida player with more than one point in the series was Huberdeau, who is now a member of the Calgary Flames.

The teams split four regular-season games during the 2021-22 campaign with Florida outscoring Tampa Bay 19-15. Anton Lundell, Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov each had five points each for Florida against Tampa Bay.

Defenseman Victor Hedman led the Lightning with five assists and six points while Brayden Point had four goals for Tampa Bay. The total has gone under in eight of the last 10 games between the teams.

Lightning vs Panthers Game Information

  • Game: Lightning (1-3-0) vs Panthers (3-1-0)
  • Location: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
  • Day/Time: Friday, Oct. 21st, 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Lightning vs Panthers Live Stream: NHL.TV

Lightning vs Panthers Betting Lines


Lightning vs Panthers Prediction

Florida will be without star defenseman Aaron Ekblad and winger Anthony Duclair as both are currently on injured reserve. Defenseman Brandon Montour is questionable so there are concerns about the strength of the play on the blue line for the host Panthers.

The Lightning have injuries on defense as well with Philippe Myers day to day and Zach Bogosian joining center Anthony Cirelli on the injured list.

Tampa Bay has five power-play goals, but has allowed four to be scored while Florida is even in the special teams department with two PP goals scored and just two allowed.

It is odd to see Tampa Bay with a losing record, even if it is early in the season. The Lightning needed some time to figure things out a season ago and when it counted, they were the last Eastern Conference team standing. Still, it is hard to pick against Florida playing at home based on how the teams are playing at the current time.

Lightning vs Panthers Edge

Lightning vs Panthers Results

Lightning vs Panthers Game Summary

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