Panthers vs. Lightning NHL Playoffs Bets & Predictions (Tuesday)
The NHL postseason churns ahead on Tuesday, and we're coming off of a fantastic Monday slate that saw a pair of overtime games and a barnburning 6-5 Kings win in Los Angeles. I'll dive into three of tonight's games from a betting perspective, and let you know where I'm laying my money on the ice. Here’s our top NBA picks and predictions for today’s game Panthers vs. Lightning.
Tuesday's NHL Best Bets: Panthers vs. Lightning
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook)
Panthers vs. Lightning
The final series to get started in the NHL playoffs is this 2-3 matchup in the Atlantic Division between the Panthers (0-0) and the Lightning (0-0). The champs posted a 47-31-4 record during the regular season, while the Bolts went 47-27-8 and earned home ice advantage in the first round. The opening game of this in-state series gets underway tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL.
The Panthers closed the season on a horrendous 3-6-1 run. Included in that sample size is the regular-season finale, where they were decimated by the Lightning at Amalie in a 5-1 contest on April 15. I really have no interest in backing this Florida team, which was dead last in scoring (1.98 G/60) over the final 10 games of the season.
Sure, the Cats are expected to get Matthew Tkachuk back, but do we really think they're just going to flip a switch and do a complete 180? I think that's pretty unlikely against this top-tier Lightning squad, which finished the season first in scoring (3.53 G/60) and fifth on the power play (25.86%). Andrei Vasilevskiy is in Vezina form with a 2.18 GAA (fourth) and a .921 SV% (fourth), and Tampa will have its home crowd behind them (29-8-4 at home) as well. I think we're getting an absolute bargain to only lay a -115 price with the Bolts in this game.
Pick: Lightning Moneyline (-115)