Lightning vs. Panthers Betting Odds, Pick & Prediction: Is Sergei Bobrovsky Finding His Form Again?
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images. Pictured: Spencer Knight
- The Panthers and Lightning meet for the first time in this campaign on Tuesday night after duking it out in the first round of the postseason last season.
- The Panthers are a perfect 2-0 while the Lightning are 2-1 and missing some key pieces.
- Pat Pickens breaks down the game and give his bet below.
Lightning vs. Panthers Odds
| Panthers Odds | +110 |
| Lightning Odds | -130 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL odds here. | |
The Florida rivals will renew acquaintances for the first time during the 2021-22 season after their memorable playoff series in the spring.
The Lightning and Panthers are two of the three highest-scoring teams in the NHL in the season's early going. Each team enters on a two-game win streak, with Lightning topping the Washington Capitals 2-1 on Saturday and Florida rolling the New York Islanders 5-1 on Saturday.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers are eyeing their second straight 3-0 start and have looked dominant, especially offensively. Florida is averaging five goals per game thus far and boasts the third-best goal differential in the NHL.
The Cats were one of the NHL's best 5-on-5 teams last season and so far, so good this campaign as Florida has skated to a 54.6% expected goal rate in two games against the Penguins and Islanders.
A surprising start to Florida's early season success is the play of Sergei Bobrovsky. The veteran netminder has struggled over his first two seasons in Sunrise, but he's been terrific to start the year with a .953 save percentage at 5-on-5 and 1.90 goals-saved above average at all strengths while starting 2-0.
Rather than go back to Bobrovsky, Joel Quenneville will get rookie phenom Spencer Knight his first action of 2021/22 against the Lightning. Knight, who is one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year, was strong in limited action last season and acquitted himself quite well against the Lightning in the postseason.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have shaken off the rust after their sleepy season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning a pair of one-goal games against the Capitals and Detroit Red Wings.
Yet, Tampa Bay's victory on Saturday came at a cost. Former Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov sustained an undisclosed injury and will miss significant time for the second straight season.
Kuchrov was off to another hot start, with four points and 0.82 individual expected goals created through three games.
Panthers vs. Lightning Pick
If there was a penalty minutes prop, I would absolutely love that since these teams do not like each other, particularly in the aftermath of their playoff series last season.
The Lightning may have won the playoff series in the spring in six games, but Florida is certainly not intimidated by the two-time defending champs, particularly without Kucherov — who famously missed the entire regular season but returned for Tampa Bay's playoff opener vs. Florida. The Panthers were 5-2-1 against the Lightning a year ago and went 2-1-1 in Tampa.
Florida as a plus-money underdog seems too enticing to pass up.
Pick: Panthers ML +110
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