The Florida Panthers (21-11-2) and Tampa Bay Lightning (19-10-2) are set to reignite their fierce in-state rivalry at Amalie Arena on Sunday evening, with both teams riding impressive winning streaks into this Atlantic Division clash.

The Panthers enter the contest having won their last three games and six of their last eight, showcasing their offensive prowess with a 3.5 goals-per-game average while being led by Sam Reinhart's outstanding 43-point campaign.

Tampa Bay comes in equally hot, winning four straight games and six of their last seven, boasting the NHL's highest-scoring offense at 4.0 goals per game and the formidable presence of Andrei Vasilevskiy in net.

While the Panthers have dominated recent head-to-head matchups with eight victories in their last ten meetings, including a commanding 6-1 win in their most recent encounter, the Lightning's home ice advantage and current form suggest this could be anyone's game.

Both teams feature elite special teams units, with Florida converting 26.9% of their power plays and Tampa Bay close behind at 27.8%, setting the stage for what could be an explosive offensive display.

As these Sunshine State rivals prepare to face off in what promises to be another memorable chapter in their rivalry, fans can expect an intense battle between two of the NHL's most dynamic teams.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: who will win?

For tonight's Panthers vs Lightning matchup, our predictive model gives the Lightning a 62.5% chance of defeating the Panthers.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 62.5% win probability

  • Exceptional scoring efficiency (120 goals in just 30 games played)
  • Strong defensive record (Only 86 goals against, among the best in the league)
  • Perfect recent form until last game (WWWWL in last 5 matches)

Florida Panthers: 37.5% win probability

  • Defensive vulnerability (106 goals against in 34 games)
  • Recent form decline (WWWLL in last 5 matches)
  • Lower points-per-game ratio (44 points in 34 games vs Lightning's 38 in 30)

At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning odds

Florida PanthersTampa Bay Lightning

Key stats

  • 1
    The Florida Panthers have won 21 out of 34 matches this season.
  • 2
    The Tampa Bay Lightning have won 18 out of 30 matches this season.
  • 3
    With 44 points, the Florida Panthers holds the 4th position in the league standings.
  • 4
    Tampa Bay Lightning's 38 points place them 7th in the rankings.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning form

Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
Latest matches
W
W
W
L
L
Victories
3/5 (60%)
Defeats
2/5 (40%)
Dec 21, 2024
St. Louis Blues1:2Florida Panthers
Dec 19, 2024
Minnesota Wild1:6Florida Panthers
Dec 17, 2024
Edmonton Oilers5:6Florida Panthers
Dec 15, 2024
Calgary Flames3:0Florida Panthers
Dec 13, 2024
Vancouver Canucks4:0Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
Latest matches
W
W
W
W
L
Victories
4/5 (80%)
Defeats
1/5 (20%)
Dec 20, 2024
St. Louis Blues1:3Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 18, 2024
Columbus Blue Jackets3:5Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 15, 2024
Seattle Kraken1:5Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 13, 2024
Calgary Flames3:8Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 11, 2024
Edmonton Oilers2:1Tampa Bay Lightning

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning head to head

Florida Panthers

50%

Tampa Bay Lightning

50%

Oct 2, 2024

Tampa Bay Lightning

1 : 2

Florida Panthers

Sep 30, 2024

Florida Panthers

1 : 3

Tampa Bay Lightning

Sep 25, 2024

Tampa Bay Lightning

8 : 7

Florida Panthers

Apr 29, 2024

Florida Panthers

6 : 1

Tampa Bay Lightning

Apr 27, 2024

Tampa Bay Lightning

6 : 3

Florida Panthers

Apr 25, 2024

Tampa Bay Lightning

3 : 5

Florida Panthers