Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Prediction, 4/26/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL

TV: TBS

Odds/Point Spread: Lightning (+115) Panthers (-135)

Leading the series 2 - 0, the Florida Panthers (47-31-4) will go up against the Tampa Bay Lightning (47-27-8) at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round. The line on this matchup has the Lightning at +115 and the Panthers are at -135. The over/under has been set at 6.5.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking to get a win in their next outing after their 2-0 loss to the Panthers in Game 2. Tampa Bay amassed 15 minutes in the box in this matchup. Moreover, they had 5 chances with extra men on the ice but didn't net one. The Lightning left a lot to be desired in terms of their offense in the defeat. In the outing, they walked away having not converted any of the 19 shots they put on net.

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At even strength, the Lightning have allowed the opponent to score 178 goals while earning 232 themselves. Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have tallied 206 power play opportunities (23rd in hockey) and have earned 38 goals in those chances. Concerning their scoring capabilities, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accounted for 292 goals (1st in pro hockey) on the year and have given up 216. Tampa Bay has attempted 2,341 shots and has a shooting percentage of 12.5%. For the current season, they have tallied 102 points and their points % is .622. The Lightning have seen 2,311 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .907. Tampa Bay skates onto the rink with 232 power play opportunities and they have added 60 goals during those chances, giving them a rate of 25.86%.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Andrei Vasilevskiy. In his career, Vasilevskiy has 306 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .577. His save percentage currently is .917 during his 28,204 mins played. Vasilevskiy has seen 16,107 shots against him and he has 14,772 saves. The opposition has racked up 1,335 goals versus Vasilevskiy in his pro career and his goals against rate is 2.84. He has compiled an overall mark of 331-163-35 and he has gotten the start in 530 games. Vasilevskiy has played in 540 contests over the course of his pro hockey career.

In Game 2, the Panthers tallied 2 goals of the 23 shots on goal they tried. They had 3 power play chances in this matchup but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal.

The Panthers have accumulated 190 goals at even strength and 56 goals (9th in the NHL) while having more men on the ice. Florida has taken 2,588 shots (3rd in the NHL) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 9.51%, while allowing the opposition 2,146 shots. So far this year, the Florida Panthers have tallied 246 goals, 98 points, as well as a points percentage of .598. They have allowed 223 goals to be scored by way of 176 goals at even strength and 47 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 238 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 23.53%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 80.74% on their oppositions 244 power play chances, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.6%.

Across the rink you are going to see Sergei Bobrovsky in the crease. He has accrued 19,926 stops out of 21,794 shots attempted, which gives him a save % of .914. Bobrovsky is the owner of a lifetime record of 429-243-57 and has played in 754 contests. He has started in 738 games and has played for a total of 40,458 mins. Bobrovsky's percentage of quality starts comes out to 58.0% and he has 428 quality starts in his professional career. His opposition is averaging 2.77 goals per contest and he has relinquished 1,868 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (+115)

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