TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers are set to clash once again at AMALIE Arena tonight for Game Two of their highly anticipated first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series. The Panthers drew first blood on Tuesday, skating away with a decisive 6-2 victory in Game One, leaving the Lightning eager to even the score on home ice.
Historically, Tampa Bay holds a 9-7 edge over their in-state rivals in playoff matchups, including a 5-3 record when hosting the Panthers.
This marks the fourth time in the last five seasons that these two teams have met in the postseason, with Florida claiming a five-game series win in their most recent encounter last year.
READ: Lightning Have “Another Level” They Must Find In Game 2
Nikita Kucherov has been a consistent offensive threat for the Lightning against Florida in the playoffs, amassing an impressive 5 goals and 21 assists for 26 points in 16 games. Veteran defenseman Victor Hedman is close behind, tied for second in team scoring with 1 goal and 18 assists for 19 points in the same number of games.
Between the pipes, Andrei Vasilevskiy has been a mainstay for Tampa Bay, starting all 16 previous playoff contests against the Panthers, posting a 9-7 record with a solid .926 save percentage, a 2.56 goals-against average, and two shutouts. Despite the Game One loss, he made 10 saves.
Tonight’s matchup will see the Lightning looking to capitalize on their home advantage and bounce back from the opening game defeat.
READ: NHL Announces Schedule Updates For Lightning-Panthers And Avalanche-Stars First Round Series
They have a history of overcoming a 1-0 series deficit, boasting a 12-10 record (.545 winning percentage) in such situations. Their record is even stronger when starting the series at home, where they are 8-4 (.667 winning percentage) when trailing 1-0.
On the other side of the ice, the Panthers will be looking to carry their momentum from Game One. Their leading scorers in the opener were Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart, each netting two goals, while Matthew Tkachuk contributed a goal and an assist.
Aleksander Barkov also chipped in with two assists. For the Lightning, Gustav Forsling scored a goal and an assist for the Panthers.
Game 2 Betting Report: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
Series: Panthers lead 1-0 Game 2 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025 Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Game Overview: The Florida Panthers took Game 1 in a decisive 6-2 victory, putting the Tampa Bay Lightning in an early series hole. Game 2 shifts back to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning will look to even the series.
Key Points from Game 1:
- The Panthers’ offense was explosive, capitalizing on their power play opportunities.
- The Lightning’s star goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, had an uncharacteristically weak performance.
- Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk made a significant impact in his return.
Odds:
- Moneyline: Lightning (-130), Panthers (+110)
- Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Predictions:
- Many analysts predict a strong bounce-back performance from the Lightning in Game 2.
- The Lightning are favored to win, given their home-ice advantage and strong regular-season record.
- The over/under is a point of contention, with both teams having potent offenses but also capable goaltending.
Betting Trends:
- The Lightning have generally performed well as home favorites this season.
- The Panthers have been competitive as underdogs.
- Recent games between these teams have tended to be high-scoring.
Player Props to Watch:
- Brayden Point (Lightning): Has been a consistent goal-scorer against the Panthers.
- Nikita Kucherov (Lightning): A key offensive driver for Tampa Bay.
- Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers): A game-changer for Florida, capable of scoring and creating opportunities.
Injury Report:
- Lightning: Anthony Cirelli’s status is uncertain after leaving Game 1. Oliver Bjorkstrand is out.
- Panthers: No major injuries reported.
Analyst Notes:
- The Lightning’s response to their Game 1 loss will be crucial. Their experience and championship pedigree could be a factor.
- The Panthers’ power play effectiveness will be something to watch.
- Goaltending will be a key factor. Vasilevskiy’s performance in Game 2 could determine the game’s outcome.
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