Free NHL Hockey Prediction: Panthers vs Lightning NHL Odds
Looking for Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning free hockey plays & NHL Odds? NHL betting sees the Lightning taking on the Panthers on Wednesday, May 26th, 2021 at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NHL Hockey games all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NHL hockey predictions like this Lightning Panthers matchup.
NHL Handicapping Analysis
(37-14-5) (2-3) Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3-2) (36-17-3)
Date: Wednesday, May 26th, 2021
Time: 8:00pm ET
Venue: Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida
NHL Hockey Moneyline Odds: Panthers -135 Lightning -155
NHL Hockey Puck Line Odds: Panthers +1.5 -180 Lightning -1.5 +160
NHL Betting Total: 6
Wednesday Night hockey brings us game 6 of The Battle of Florida. The Panthers are on the brink of elimination, but have held on for one game already bringing the series back to Tampa 3-2 in favour of the Bolts.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are coming off a big win in game 5 where they fended off elimination. The Panthers only allowed a single goal in rookie goaltender, Spencer Knight’s play-off debut.
Knight is unproven at the NHL, but he has put up consistent numbers at the college level. He also has experience competing at a high level from his time in net for the U.S National Under 18 team. There’s also the simple fact that Tampa might not have a read on Knight yet, and not know what weaknesses exist in his game for them to exploit.
Of course, Florida can not only rely on goaltending to win this game. The Panthers have a handful of stars that are performing very well in these play-offs so far. Jonathan Huberdeau has 10 points in the last 5 games against Tampa, and both Aleksander Barkov and Patric Hornqvist have 5 goals each.
The Panthers will also be looking to add some depth scoring from their forwards who have not yet appeared on the scoresheet such as Anthony Duclair and Noel Acciari. Time will tell if the depth can step up for the Panthers.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa will be looking to avoid a game 7 and close out the series at home. As the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Tampa definitely has player experience on their side.
Vasilevskiy has been good for a .919 save percentage so far in these play-offs. Fairly good numbers for most goalies, but they fall slightly short of what is expected of Tampa’s highly awarded goaltender.
The Lightning’s top 6 forwards are performing as expected, but like the Panthers, there are some depth pieces who have yet to land themselves on the scoresheet. Pat Maroon and Tyler Johnson are among them, with Maroon’s biggest impact seemingly coming when he decided to crosscheck Noel Acciari off the face-off in the dying seconds of a game well out of reach.
I think Tampa will probably still win this series in game 7, but they looked rattled last game, and the series is much tighter than I think many people realize.
NHL Betting Trends
- Florida is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- Florida is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
- Florida is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Tampa Bay is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
- Tampa Bay is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Florida
- Tampa Bay is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games when playing Florida
- The total has gone OVER in 18 of Tampa Bay’s last 25 games when playing Florida
Free Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Prediction:
This is a tough game to call, but since that the Panthers have outshot the Lightning in 4/5 games so far, and given that Spencer Knight looked great in his play-off debut, I am predicting that the panthers will come away with the win and force a game seven. Good luck!
4* Free NHL Betting Pick: Moneyline Florida Panthers -135
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