Tampa Bay Lightning vs
Florida PanthersPredictions & Preview

Florida Panthers Look to Sweep Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 Amid Series Lead

The Tampa Bay Lightning will face off against the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Saturday. After a 2-0 loss in Game 2, Tampa Bay trails 2-0 in the series and must win at least one game on the road to stay alive. Florida, the betting favorite, aims to take advantage of home ice advantage to close out the series with two consecutive wins. For a more detailed prediction on the matchup, including NHL picks, be sure to read on. Stay informed and elevate your gameplay for the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Lightning +117 | Panthers -137
• Spread: Lightning +1.5 (-220) | Panthers -1.5 (+183)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Florida will win straight-up is 58%.

Tampa Bay vs Florida Stats

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a critical situation heading into Game 3, as they are down 0-2 in the series and on the brink of elimination. The team struggled in Game 2, with just 19 shots on goal, no goals scored on five power plays, and a lack of defensive plays with only six shots blocked and 15 giveaways. The team has scored only two goals in the series so far, with Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel as the only goal scorers. Despite a strong regular season, Nikita Kucherov has only one assist in the series. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has struggled, with a 0-2 record, 3.56 goals against average, and .821 save percentage. Looking at overall statistics, Tampa Bay is ranked 1st in offense and 5th in defense, with a power ranking of 4. Despite their regular season success, the team must step up their performance to avoid elimination in Game 3.

Florida Panthers Analysis

The Florida Panthers have dominated the first two games of the series against Tampa Bay, outscoring them 8-2. In Game 2, Florida's defense and goalie held Tampa Bay to just 19 shots on goal, while Florida took 23 shots in their victory. Although Florida failed to score on its power plays, their penalty kill was successful in keeping Tampa Bay off the board during five power plays. Nate Schmidt leads the team in playoff goals with three, while Aleksander Barkov leads in assists with three. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been stellar with a 2-0 record, 1.00 GAA, and .951 SV%. Overall, Florida has a power ranking of 3 and ranks #14 in offense and #4 in defense. Tampa Bay has won two out of their last three matchups against Florida.

Florida Panthers Dominate at Home, Take Commanding Lead Over Tampa Bay Lightning

The Florida Panthers have demonstrated their strength at home, with a regular-season record of 27-12-2, whereas Tampa Bay struggled on the road with a record of 18-19-4. Florida's defensive performance has been exceptional, limiting Tampa Bay's scoring opportunities in front of the goal and within the crease. The Panthers have effectively executed forechecking strategies, controlled the neutral zone, and showcased a strong penalty kill, resulting in a 2-0 series lead. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been a key player, boasting a 1.00 GAA, .951 SV%, and one shutout in two games. On the contrary, Tampa Bay has faced challenges, losing five of their last seven games and struggling against Florida with a 12-4 record. In contrast, Florida has won 15 of their last 18 home games and five of their last seven overall.

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