The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have a loaded four-game slate to wager on Saturday, with two potential close-out games in the Eastern Conference. We’re targeting the Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning matchup ahead of Game 4 from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Friday’s +400 SGP never came close to hitting between Vancouver and Nashville, so we’re due for a bounce-back in the Panthers vs. Lightning game.
The Lightning jumped out to a brief 2-1 lead at home against the Panthers in Game 3 before Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour scored a pair of second-period goals to regain momentum and the lead for the remainder of the matchup. Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has surrendered increasingly more goals throughout the series against the Panthers, as he’s been peppered by 30 or more shots in back-to-back games.
On the other end of the ice, Sergei Bobrovsky has dealt with less shot volume and has reeled off several insane saves to help the Panthers maintain a 3-0 series lead heading into Saturday’s road game. Bobrovsky is 6-0-1 in his last seven starts for Florida, which includes two shutouts. In addition, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe have been busy in this playoff series against Tampa Bay, each with five total points, with both players scoring at least two goals.
I’ve found a two-leg Same Game Parlay to wager ahead of Game 4 between the Panthers and Lightning on Saturday afternoon. Make sure to follow me @Matt_MacKay_ on X to get more free plays, NHL Prop Bets, and NHL best bets during the week.
Saturday's NHL SGP
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Leg 1: Carter Verhaeghe To Record 1+ Points (-178)
Carter Verhaeghe has been involved on some of the biggest scoring plays in the series for Florida. The Panthers’ second-line attack features Verhaeghe and Tkachuk, while Verhaeghe also earns prime opportunities on their top powerplay unit. He’s recorded at least one point in all three games in this series against the Lightning, while recording 11 shots on goal, which is third-most on the Panthers.
Whether it’s an assist or a goal doesn’t matter with this betting market. We simply need Verhaeghe to continue producing in the offensive zone to hit the first leg of this two-leg Same Game Parlay.
Leg 2: Florida Panthers Moneyline (-125)
We’re keeping it simple by inserting the Panthers’ moneyline odds as the second and final leg of this Same Game Parlay. Florida is in a great position to sweep the Lightning on the road in Game 4. In fact, the Panthers have yet to lose at Amalie Arena in either the regular season or during this playoff series.
Factor in Bobrovsky, who is a better goaltender than Vasilevskiy, plus the depth of Florida’s goal scorers, combined with their physicality and resiliency, and this feels like a best bet worth wagering straight as well. It’s hard to win a playoff series 4-0 and the Lightning have talented playmakers on their roster, however, the Panthers have all of the momentum and confidence heading into this closeout game.
Florida has won seven consecutive games outright, and excluding a 5-3 loss at home in March, they are 5-1 SU against the Lightning this season, including 3-0 SU at Amalie Arena. -125 is great value to acquire on the Panthers’ moneyline odds ahead of the opening puck drop at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.
Same Game Parlay Odds: +126
Parlaying Carter Verhaeghe to continue his point-scoring streak, plus Florida to win outright to close out the series in a 4-0 sweep, gets us to +126 odds for our Same Game Parlay ahead of Game 4 between the Panthers and Lightning. Verhaeghe’s usage in the offensive zone, whether during 5-on-5 or powerplay, combined with Sergei Bobrovsky’s superior talent defending the goal, means we should see Florida go into Amalie Arena to continue dominating the Lightning on the road. A +126 SGP is a nice way to rake in some profit before the other two playoff games start on Saturday night.
Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.