The Tampa Bay Lightning (19-10-2) are set to host their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers (21-11-2), in a crucial Atlantic Division matchup at Amalie Arena on Sunday evening that could have significant playoff implications.
Both Florida teams enter the contest riding impressive winning streaks, with the Panthers securing three consecutive victories and the Lightning on a four-game winning run.
The Panthers, currently tied for first in the Atlantic Division, bring their potent offense led by Sam Reinhart (43 points) and Matthew Tkachuk (34 points), while the Lightning counter with the NHL's highest-scoring attack (4.0 goals per game) spearheaded by Nikita Kucherov's 49 points.
The goaltending battle features two elite netminders, with Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.44 GAA, .912 save percentage) squaring off against Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky (2.79 GAA, .896 save percentage).
Recent history favors the Panthers, who have claimed victory in eight of the last ten meetings between these Sunshine State rivals, including a commanding 6-1 win in their most recent encounter.
As these two powerhouse teams prepare to face off in what promises to be an intense divisional battle, fans can expect a high-stakes showdown that could reshape the Atlantic Division standings heading into the holiday break.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers: who will win?
For tonight's Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers 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 30 games, 4.0 goals per game)
- Strong defensive record (86 goals against in 30 games, 2.87 GAA)
- Impressive recent form (WWWWL, won 4 of last 5 games)
Florida Panthers: 37.5% win probability
- Defensive inconsistency (106 goals against in 34 games)
- Recent form decline (WWWLL, lost last two games)
- Road game disadvantage (facing team with better goals against ratio)
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.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers odds
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Florida Panthers | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -105 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | -115 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Tampa Bay Lightning have won 18 out of 30 matches this season.
- 2The Florida Panthers have won 21 out of 34 matches this season.
- 3With 38 points, the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the 7th position in the league standings.
- 4Florida Panthers's 44 points place them 4th in the rankings.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers form
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers head to head
Tampa Bay Lightning
50%
Florida Panthers
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
