Lighting vs Panthers Predictions and Odds

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers are squaring off in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Florida is the favorite to advance, having already secured a 2-0 lead on their home ice. The series now shifts to Tampa Bay, and the 2021 Stanley Cup champions will look to get themselves back level in the series. 

Lighting vs Panthers Prediction for Stanley Cup Playoffs 2024

The Florida Panthers have the odds in their favor for the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs and are the clear favorites to advance. They have -910 odds available, with the Lighting coming back with +580 odds. You can make your free sports predictions at Sportzino, the best social sportsbook available. It’s hard to look past the Panthers at this stage, as they would need to lose four of the next five games to be eliminated. The -910 odds are steep, but there is no doubt that Florida is the clear favorite to win. Star player, Carter Verhaeghe, scored the overtime winner in Game 2 and will be looking to continue his goal tally throughout the series. Florida is the better team and will be able to close out the series in the coming games. 

Lightning vs Panthers Odds

The Panthers are -910 favorites to advance, but that doesn’t mean they will be the favorite in every game. The Tampa Bay Lightning are -120 favorites to clinch a victory in Game 3 at home. Considering the Lightning were narrowly defeated 3-2 in overtime in game 2, these odds are quite tempting to make your free predictions. Tampa Bay is +580 to complete a 2-0 comeback against the reigning Eastern Conference champions, and the plethora of playoff experience under their belt will have them confident they can do so. 

Lightning vs Panthers Moneyline and Over/Under Analysis

The moneylines for the rest of the series will be very tight. Games 3 and 4 will take place on the home ice of the Tampa Bay Lightning, making them slight favorites to pick up the win. The Panthers are clearly the better team through the first two games of the series, but the Lightning will be popular picks to win the next couple of games. The Over/Under is set at 6.5 goals, as both teams are capable of finding the back of the net with consistency. The Lightning vs Panthers series is one of the closest in the entire NHL, and the moneyline odds accurately reflect that fact. 

Lightning vs Panthers History and Trends

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers have an intertwined history, with these two Florida teams engaging in several rivalry games. Florida had the edge over the Lightning in the regular season, winning 9 of the last 16 meetings between these two teams. However, the Stanley Cup playoffs are a different story. In 2020-2021, the Lightning beat the Panthers 4-2 in the first round. The Lightning dominated the series 24-17 in goals and were the clear favorites throughout the series. The following year, the Lightning beat the Panthers again, this time by a score of 4-0. They held Florida to just three goals across all four games and will be confident they can beat the odds and turn the tides this year too. 

Lightning vs Panthers Game Info and Schedule

The Lightning and Panthers still have a long series ahead of them, as they’ve played just two of the possible seven games scheduled. 

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Injury Report

The Lightning and Panthers both have few injured players, allowing the odds to stay very close. The Panthers could be missing Sam Bennett, who is questionable with an upper-body injury for Game 3. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is still without the star defenseman, Mikhail Sergachev, who is out with a lower-body injury. Keeping a close eye on the injury report is crucial when making your free NHL predictions, as the odds can be heavily influenced by who is available to suit up on a nightly basis. 

Are the Panthers and Lightning Rivals?

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are certainly rivals. The two teams are in the Atlantic Division and are the only two NHL teams in Florida. The rest of their division features teams from Canada and the Northeast United States, pitting these two rivals against each other several times each season. Additionally, their recent playoff meetings have added fuel to the rivalry, making these two teams bitter rivals for the foreseeable future. 

Where to Make Free Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Predictions?

The best place to make your free Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers predictions is at Sportzino. There are dozens of NHL props available, and some of the best odds on the market are only available at Sportzino. The free social sportsbook offers plenty of chances to make your free NHL odds throughout the months of April and May.