Lightning vs Panthers Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Cats Get Struck by In-State Rivals

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers square off at FLA Live! Arena in Sunrise on Monday, which was the venue for this past weekend’s All-Star Game festivities.

This will be the third of four meetings between these Sunshine State rivals, and the second battle in South Florida. The Lightning picked up a 3-2 win in overtime against the Panthers on October 21 in Sunrise, while posting a 4-1 win at Amalie Arena in Tampa in the most recent encounter on December 10.

The Lightning picked up three victories prior to the All-Star break while averaging 4.0 goals per game during the span. The Panthers posted a 4-3 OT win against the Boston Bruins, snapping an 0-2-1 skid.

Will the Lightning strike again for a third straight win this season against the Panthers, or will the Cats fight and claw for a much-needed win? We’ll discuss in our NHL betting picks for Lightning vs. Panthers below.

Lightning vs Panthers best odds

Lightning vs Panthers picks and predictions

The Tampa Bay Lightning hope that the break didn’t cool them off, as they had won their past three games entering the break. Tampa is also 8-2 in the past 10 games overall, including victories in three of the past five on the road.

The Panthers scored a 4-3 win in overtime against the NHL-leading Boston Bruins before prepping for the weekend’s All-Star festivities. It will be interesting to see if the Panthers, who saw Matthew Tkachuk win the All-Star Game MVP honors, can build upon the positive momentum and attention.

In the first meeting in October down in Sunrise, the Lightning used the power play to secure two points in the OT win. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring, while Brayden Point scored the game-tying goal midway through the third period while scoring in OT on the man advantage.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been sidelined since January 19 due to a lower-body injury, but he's projected to start after practicing with the team over the weekend. He is 0-1-1 with a 3.46 GAA and .900 SV% in two starts against the Lightning this season.

All-Star Andrei Vasilevskiy, who won both ends of the 3-on-3 tournament for the Atlantic Division, has a stellar 2-0-0 record, 1.48 GAA, and .952 SV% in two starts, saving 60 of the 63 shots he's faced from the Florida Panthers to date.  

Look for the Lightning — who are very slight favorites — to get it done on the road, maintaining their mastery against their Sunshine State rivals. The reasoning is simple, too, as Tampa just has the better goaltending.

My best bet: Lightning moneyline (-125 at BetMGM)

Lightning vs Panthers moneyline analysis

The Lightning head into this one not only dominating the Panthers, but dominating almost everybody else lately.

Tampa Bay has posted 25 wins in the past 34 games overall, as it's snapped on track after a slow start this season by its standards. The Lightning are also an impressive 82-31 across the past couple of seasons against Atlantic Division goers, which equates to a .726 winning percentage.

The Lightning have dominated the Panthers, as mentioned, going 42-20 across the past 62 meetings, which is a .677 winning percentage. That includes a 4-0 record in the past four meetings in Sunrise, too. Overall, the favorite has won 26 of the past 37 meetings, which bodes well for the visitors.

The Panthers have ended up winning five of the past six games inside the Atlantic Division, which is good news, but they’re just 2-5 in the previous seven outings against teams with a winning percentage over .600.

Florida has really struggled to stack wins, going 8-21 in the past 29 games following a victory. 

As a favorite, Tampa Bay has covered five in a row on the puck line, so if you wanted to lay the goal and a half for a chance to nearly double up, it’s certainly worth a half-unit play or better.

Lightning vs Panthers Over/Under analysis

The Under has connected for the Lightning at a 5-1-1 clip in the past seven games inside the Atlantic Division while going 7-2-1 in the past 10 games inside the Eastern Conference.

However, the Over is 6-1 in the past seven for Tampa Bay when playing on three or more days of rest.

Another contributing factor to an Over play is the fact that the Lightning will be facing a goaltender, Bobrovsky, whom it's usually dominated. And Bob might be a little rusty after missing the past three weeks with an LBI.

For the Panthers, it’s been all Over all the time lately. The Over has hit in seven in a row for the Cats while going 5-0 in the past five inside the Eastern Conference.

The Over is 5-2 for Florida in the previous seven against Atlantic Division goers while going 12-3-2 in the past 17 inside FLA Live! Arena.

Lightning vs Panthers betting trend to know

The Lightning have dominated the Panthers, winning 42 of the past 62 meetings overall, including 4-0 in the past four trips to Sunrise. Find more NHL betting trends for Lightning vs Panthers.

Lightning vs Panthers game info

Lightning vs Panthers key injuries

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