Tampa Bay Lightning (45-29-8) vs. Florida Panthers (52-24-6)
As the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up, the upcoming face-off between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers promises to be a riveting encounter. The Lightning, with a solid 45-29-8 record, are set to challenge the Panthers, who have an impressive 52-24-6 standing, this Sunday at the Amerant Bank Arena. Fans and bettors using the best bookie software are eagerly marking their calendars for this high-stakes clash scheduled for April 21, 2024, at 12:30 PM ET, airing live on ESPN.
Tampa Bay Lightning has an irresistible offensive frontline featuring center Nikita Kucherov, who showcases a magnificent 144 points so far made up of 44 goals and 100 assists. The team also has the powerful Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos at the center of their attack, two players with no shortage of sharpshooting prowess. In the upcoming Florida game, the threesome of dons of scores will be the key for them to get past the tight defense of the goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who has a creditable save percentage, 0.915.
On the other hand, the Florida Panthers’ attack is another potent weapon which looks good with the quality of Sam Reinhart as the center and Matthew Tkachuk playing off his left. In front, with 57 goals, and Tkachuk providing the playmaking skill, which landed him 62 assists, the Islanders pose a challenge that really tests Tampa Bay defense and the goalkeeper Vasilevskiy.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Game Info
| When: | Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 12:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Amerant Bank Arena |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky
Andrei Vasilevskiy with 52 games in his ledger this season displays an appreciably strong goaltending stats of 2.9 goals-against average and .9 save percentage. His ability, in no doubt, will be put on trial in crucial shootout face-offs against the Panthers’ marksman shooters Reinhart and Tkachuk. Tampa Bay needs to save Vasilevsky’s performance that helps them defend themselves against the oppressed offensive acts of Florida.
Likewise, Sergei Bobrovsky has been a vital piece for Florida, providing major weight to their solid defense with a superior 2.37 goals-against average from 58 games. His experience and production will keep him in the game as he deals with the threats Tampa Bay produces, including the sometimes dangerous fire power of Kucherov and Point.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: Florida Panthers -160, Total Odds: 6
Current betting odds favor the Florida Panthers with a moneyline of -160, reflecting their higher regular-season win record and strong defensive stats. The total for the game is set at 6, with slight favoritism towards the under, given the goaltenders’ prowess on both ends.
Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Trends
The Lighting results show a mixed bag: they are 3-2 in their last 5 matches. While the record for covering the spread has been inconsistent, the team has proved to be quite resilient during the road games. Their betting trends reward them with upset potential, an ability which has seen them surpass the total point predictions in a good number of their recent games.
Florida Panthers Betting Trends
The Panthers are like Tampa Bay’s poor form of this time but are better in the ATS lines in their games away. One group looks better but the other is more adept to the stressful situations, which is so vital for this kind of a playoff game.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers 4/21/24 Betting Picks
Although there is little to separate both teams in terms of form and strength, this match is expected to be closely fought. The Panthers, due to their general better performance and defensive superiority, have the edge over the Gators. Nonetheless, Tampa Bay’s offensive rivals are not to be neglected, especially given the heated playoff environment.
For Stanley Cup picks and prediction, considering the offensive talents on display and both goaltenders’ capabilities, a high-scoring game could be on the cards, but the strategic defensive play will likely prevail. Prop bets on top scorers like Kucherov and Reinhart might offer value.
