The battle in the Sunshine State continues but we see the Panthers advancing to the next round as we fatten our bankroll on Monday night. Let’s break down the NHL odds at the top betting sites for this matchup.
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NHL Best Bet: Panthers ML (-178) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
Monday, April 29, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Amerant Bank Arena
Key Facts
- Tampa Bay is 2-6 SU in their last 8 games.
- Tampa Bay is 2-7 SU in their last 9 games against Florida.
- Florida is 7-1 SU in their last 8 games.
Emotional Lift
Steve Stamkos and Brandon Hagel were largely responsible for staving off the Lightning’s elimination with a pair of goals apiece in what resulted in a 6-3 Tampa Bay victory over the visiting Panthers.
A surprise addition to the Lightning lineup undoubtedly gave Tampa Bay an emotional boost when defenseman Mikhail Sergachev returned after having surgery on February 8th to repair a broken tibia and fibula.
The crowd continued to roar long after Sergachev’s name was announced in the pregame lineup and the 25-year-old ended the night with an assist on Brandon Hagel’s second goal of the night.
On only four of 206 occasions, a team rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to win the series and Tampa Bay will try to join that exclusive club after avoiding elimination on Saturday. And although I enjoy a good Cinderella story as much as anyone, I see this game as the clock striking midnight for the Lightning for a few reasons.
NHL Best Bet
First, the Lightning do not fare well on the Panthers’ home ice, having dropped 7 of the last 9 meetings at Amerant Bank Arena. Second, the Cats have outshot the Bolts in 3 of the 4 games, averaging 30.25 shots per game versus 25.75.
Care to guess which of the four games Tampa outshot Florida? That’s right, Game 4 – their only victory. That won’t happen tonight.
Lastly, something’s not quite right with Lightning goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy. Over his 10-year career, this regular season he had the highest goals-against average (2.90) and the lowest save percentage (.900) and it has carried over into the postseason.
No, he has not been terrible and is not solely responsible for the Lightning’s 3-1 series deficit but he hasn’t stolen any games either. That guy we used to see patrolling the cage for the Bolts could be gone for good.
Lay the lumber with the Panthers.
NHL Best Bet: Panthers ML (-178) at Caesars Sportsbook
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
