Panthers vs Lightning Picks and Prediction – 4/25/2024

The Florida Panthers will be on the road Thursday night for game three of their first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Florida is up by two games in this series following their overtime victory in game two. The Florida offense has done well for the team this season averaging more than 3.2 goals on almost 34 shots and have pumped in three in each game thus far this series. Defensively Florida is one of the best teams in the NHL allowing only 2.42 goals and have given up 4 total goals through games one and two. For other NHL news see our NHL picks.

Sergei Bobrovsky was phenomenal in game two with a .913 save percentage after giving up just two goals on 23 shots in just under 63 minutes of game time. Carter Verghaghe and Sam Bennett both came up big for Florida in game two with one goal and one assist each. Vladimir Tarasenko chipped in as well scoring the third goal of the game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning limp into Thursday having lost four of the last five including both games of this series. Offensively Tampa Bay has been top tier all season averaging more than 3.5 goals per game but have scored well below their average in this series. Defensively Tampa Bay has done the job allowing just three goals per game through two games, but the offensive struggles have caused both losses.

Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos carried the offensive load for Tampa Bay in game two pumping in one goal each. Victor Hedman chipped in two assists, while two other Tampa Bay players added one assist apiece. Andrei Vasilevskiy struggled in the net again with a .919 save percentage for giving up three goals on 37 shots.