The Florida Panthers (47-31-4) and Tampa Bay Lightning (47-27-8) will meet tonight in Game 1 of the NHL playoffs. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. EDT at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Lightning are favored at -120 on the moneyline, with the Panthers are -100 to pull off the upset. The over/under set at 5.5 (-110o / -110u).
Let's get into our Panthers vs. Lightning predictions and NHL picks.
Panthers vs. Lightning Prediction
- Pick: Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 Points
Our Florida vs. Tampa Bay best bet is on Nikita Kucherov to score over 1.5 points, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your NHL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NHL odds page.
Panthers vs Lightning Odds
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -270 | 5.5 -110o / -110u | -105 |
| Lightning Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +220 | 5.5 -110o / -110u | -115 |
- Panthers vs. Lightning puck line: Lightning -1.5 (+205 ), Panthers +1.5 (-260)
- Panthers vs. Lightning over/under: 5.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Panthers vs. Lightning moneyline: Panthers -100, Lightning -120
- Panthers vs. Lightning best bet: Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 Points
Panthers vs. Lightning Preview
By Nick Martin
The Battle of Florida between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning should be one of the best opening round series and will finally get underway Tuesday with the Lightning playing host to the Panthers.
The Panthers comfortably bested the Lightning in five games in the opening round last season, but there are plenty of arguments that suggest Tampa Bay should have a much better chance this time around, particularly in the first two matchups on home ice, as Aaron Ekblad will be serving the final two games of his suspension for PED use.
Ekblad’s absence means Seth Jones will continue to play on the top pairing, and he has been highly ineffective since coming over via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks. While Gustav Forsling’s pairing has typically been a massive strength and helped to keep Kucherov in check in last year’s playoffs, it’s become a weakness in the time since Jones arrived in Florida.
Kucherov put up seven points during the five-game series between these two teams, in which the Lightning were heavily outplayed overall. Kucherov has put up 106 points over his last 82 playoff games, and his incredible playmaking ability makes him highly effective despite there being less time and space in the postseason.
Kucherov put up 38 points in his final 25 regular season games and ultimately won the Art Ross as a result. It’s obviously tough to generate versus the Panthers, but I’m not sold that the Panthers will be as dominant this postseason as they were last year, and feel a long price of +130 is good number to back Kucherov recording two or more points in the series opener.
Best Bet: Nikita Kucherov Over 1.5 Points
