In this article we will formulate a Lightning vs Panthers prediction for this NHL game on Tuesday, April 22nd at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 47-27-8 this season after they lost to the Rangers by a score of 4-0 in their last game. Tampa Bay allowed one goal in the second period and three in the third in the shutout loss. The Lightning outshot New York by a total of 27-22, won 44.4% of the face-offs, and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Tampa Bay was led by Atkinson, who had four shots on goal, while Johansson stopped 18 out of 22 shots in the game.
Prior to that loss, the Lightning defeated the Panthers by a score of 5-1 and the Sabres by a score of 7-4. Tampa Bay has lost three of their last five games and they finished second in the Atlantic standings with 102 points. Tampa Bay has scored 3.56 goals per game and they have allowed 2.63 goals against per game, while also going 25.9% on the power play and 81.6% on the penalty kill this season. Nikita Kucherov has led TB with 37 goals, 84 assists, and 265 shots on goal, while Brandon Hagel has added 35 goals, 55 assists, and 228 shots on goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy is 38-20-5 with a 2.18 goals against average and a .921 save percentage this season.
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
The Florida Panthers are 47-31-4 this year after they lost to Tampa Bay by a score of 5-1 in their last game. Florida allowed the first four goals in the game, but they were able to get on the scoreboard in the second period to avoid the shutout. The Panthers were outshot by a total of 31-24, won 48.6% of the face-offs, and went 0-4 on the power play in the game. Florida got their lone goal from Marchand, while Vanecek stopped 26 out of 31 shots in the loss.
Prior to that game, the Panthers lost to the Rangers by a score of 5-3, but did beat the Sabres by a score of 3-2 before that. Florida has lost seven of their last ten games and they finished third in the Atlantic standings with 98 points. Florida has scored 3.00 goals per game and they have allowed 2.72 goals against per game, while also going 23.5% on the power play and 80.7% on the penalty kill this season. Sam Reinhart has led Florida with 39 goals, 42 assists, and 213 shots on goal, while Aleksander Barkov has added 20 goals, 51 assists, and 149 shots on goal. Sergei Bobrovsky is 33-19-2 with a 2.44 goals against average and a .906 save percentage this year.
Why the Lightning will beat the Panthers
- The Panthers have lost each of their last six road games.
- The home team has won eight of the Panthers’ last nine games.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in 10 of their last 12 road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The favorites have covered the puck line in each of the Lightning’s last three games.
- The Lightning have won the third period in eight of their last nine games against the Panthers at Amalie Arena when leading after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Lightning’s last seven night games against Atlantic Division opponents at Amalie Arena have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Eleven of the Panthers’ last 12 night games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the last three games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last 13 Tuesday games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in four of the Panthers’ last five games at Amalie Arena.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Brayden Point has scored a goal in six of his last seven appearances with the Lightning as home favorites against the Panthers.
- Victor Hedman has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last six home games against the Panthers.
- Jake Guentzel has recorded a point in each of his last seven appearances against the Panthers.
- Nikita Kucherov ranks 1st in the league for Points (121) this season.
Florida Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Matthew Tkachuk has scored the last goal in each of the Panthers’ last three playoff games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Matthew Tkachuk has scored at least one goal in each of his last six appearances.
- Aaron Ekblad has recorded at least one point in each of his last six appearances.
- Aaron Ekblad has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances after playing less than 20 minutes in the Panthers’ last game.
- Aleksander Barkov ranks T1st in the league for shootout goals (4) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 1st in the league for goals per game this season (3.56).
- The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of only three teams in the league to rank top 5 for both goals for and goals against per game this season.
- The Florida Panthers rank 7th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.72).
- The Florida Panthers rank 1st in the league in penalty minutes this season (843).
Lightning vs Panthers Prediction
These two teams finished just four points apart from each other and they will do battle in yet another playoff series. The Panthers are 20-19-2 on the road this year, while the Lightning are 29-8-4 at home. Tampa Bay was able to beat Florida 5-1 just two games ago, but neither team finished the regular season playing very well. The regular season series was tied at two, but I have to give the edge to Tampa Bay here. I don’t think Tkachuk is going to play in this game and even if he does, I don’t think he will be very effective in his first game in months. Take Tampa Bay to win game one at home.