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The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers meet in Game 2 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 1st-round series Tuesday. The Panthers lead the series 1-0. Puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Lightning vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Panthers have now won 5 of the last 6 meetings between these teams after Sunday’s 3-2 victory at Amerant Bank Arena. Tampa Bay managed just 10 shots in the 1st and 2nd periods combined against Florida.
Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos was the 1st player on the ice for the Bolts in Monday’s practice and the last player to score in Game 1, finding the back of the net on the power play with 9.3 seconds remaining. The 34-year-old assisted on LW Brandon Hagel‘s game-tying goal in the 1st period, his 26th career playoff multi-point game.
After a scoreless 2nd period, Florida broke the tie as former Bolts C Carter Verhaeghe scored less than a minute into the 3rd period on the power play. LW Matthew Tkachuk scored an empty-netter with just over 2 minutes to play, and the 26-year-old now has 26 points in 21 career playoff games with Florida.
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Lightning at Panthers odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lightning +146 (bet $100 to win $146) | Panthers -176 (bet $176 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning +1.5 (-178) | Panthers -1.5 (+146)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -132 | U: +108)
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Lightning at Panthers projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (30-20-2, 2.90 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%, 6 SO)
The Big Cat made several key saves to keep his team in it during Game 1 and benefits from playing in front of teammates that have blocked the 4th-highest percentage of shots (22.83%) during the regular season (min. 50 games).
Lightning coach Jon Cooper credited Florida’s forecheck in the 1st 15 minutes for limiting the amount of chances that Tampa had to score on Bobrovsky. Maurice told the Miami Herald about how last year’s playoff run “lifted a burden” off Bob and “now he can just play.” His 6 shutouts during the regular season were tied for the most in the NHL.
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Lightning at Panthers picks and predictions
Prediction
Lightning 4, Panthers 3
Moneyline
BET LIGHTNING (+138).
Cooper told reporters after losing Game 1 how the Panthers have “weathered all the frustration they possibly can” in the playoffs over the last decade. I would be surprised if Tampa Bay comes back home down 2-0. The Bolts should be able to get more scoring opportunities in Game 2, especially with Florida LW Ryan Lomberg and his 53.8% defensive zone start % (2nd-highest on team) missing the game with an illness.
Puck line/Against the spread
Consider betting Lightning +1.5 (-178) in an ML parlay.
This it too much juice to lay to get the puck and a half by itself, unless you like the NEW YORK RANGERS (-275 ML vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET) as I do. If you are looking to build a parlay, TAMPA BAY +1.5 (-178) and New York ML pays out +113.
Over/Under
BET OVER 5.5 (-132).
Both teams scored on the man advantage in Game 1, and each had top 8 power plays during the regular season, with the Lightning atop the league at 28.63%. Florida’s physical style should lend itself to more 5-on-4 advantages for the Lightning, who should cash in.
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