Lightning vs Panthers Picks and Prediction – 4/21/2024

The Tampa Bay Lightning open the 2024 playoffs Sunday on the road in Sunrise, FL against the Florida Panthers. Tampa Bay finished the regular season with 45 wins overall following a two goal victory against Toronto to close the year. Offensively Tampa Bay has been top tier all season scoring 3.51 goals and 29.3 shots. Defensively the Lightning had a few issues giving up 3.26 goals per game, but their potent offense carried them all year. For other NHL news see our NHL Picks.

Matt Tomkins did just enough in the net for Tampa Bay in their last game giving up four goals on 38 shots to boast a .895 save percentage in the victory. Anthony Duclair, Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, and Nicholas Paul all chipped in heavily for the Tampa Bay offense was one goal and one assist each.

The Florida Panthers enter the postseason with 52 wins overall having finished with the top seed in the Atlantic division. Florida has won their last four games following a three goal victory against Toronto to end the year. The Florida offense has averaged 3.23 goals on nearly 34 shots per game overall this season. Defensively is where Florida has thrived however allowing just 2.42 goals on less than 28 shots per game.

Anthony Stolarz did the job in the net for the Panthers last time out with the .923 save percentage for giving up just two goals on 26 shots in 60 minutes. Sam Reinhart led the way for the Florida scoring with two goals on four shots and nearly 22 minutes of game time. Sam Bennett chipped in as well with one goal and one assist in the game.