On Thursday the Florida Panthers take the road to square off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the NHL Playoffs First Round, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on TBS. The Panthers have a 1-0 advantage in the series. Oddsmakers favor the Lightning in this matchup, giving them -125 odds on the moneyline against the Panthers (+105).
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Before this matchup, here's who we expect to take home the victory in Thursday's NHL Playoffs First Round action.
Lightning vs. Panthers Predictions for Thursday
Our computer model for this game predicts a final result of Lightning 4, Panthers 2.
- Moneyline Pick: Lightning (-125)
- Total Pick: Over 5.5 (computer predicts 6.0 goals on average)
- Spread Pick: Lightning (-1.5)
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Lightning Splits and Trends
- The Lightning (47-27-8 overall) have a 6-8-14 record in contests that have gone to overtime.
- Tampa Bay is 8-9-5 (21 points) in its 22 games decided by one goal.
- In the nine games this season the Lightning scored only one goal, they finished 0-8-1.
- Tampa Bay has scored exactly two goals in 15 games this season (2-10-3 record, seven points).
- The Lightning have scored more than two goals 56 times, and are 45-7-4 in those games (to register 94 points).
- In the 32 games when Tampa Bay has capitalized on a lone power-play goal, it has a 22-9-1 record (45 points).
- In the 43 games this season in which it has outshot its opponent, Tampa Bay is 25-18-0 (50 points).
- The Lightning have been outshot by opponents 36 times, and went 21-7-8 (50 points).
Panthers Splits and Trends
- The Panthers (47-31-4 overall) have posted a record of 10-4-14 in matchups that have required OT this season.
- Florida has earned 26 points (11-6-4) in its 21 games that finished with a one-goal margin.
- Across the 16 games this season the Panthers ended with just one goal, they have earned six points.
- Florida has 12 points (5-7-2) when scoring two goals this season.
- The Panthers have earned 82 points in their 48 games with at least three goals scored.
- Florida has scored a lone power-play goal in 37 games this season and has registered 52 points from those matchups.
- When outshooting its opponent this season, Florida is 31-20-3 (65 points).
- The Panthers' opponents have had more shots in 21 games. The Panthers finished 11-9-1 in those matchups (23 points).
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Team Stats Comparison
| Lightning Rank | Lightning AVG | Panthers AVG | Panthers Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3.56 | Goals Scored | 3 | 15th |
| 4th | 2.63 | Goals Allowed | 2.72 | 7th |
| 12th | 28.5 | Shots | 31.5 | 3rd |
| 14th | 28.1 | Shots Allowed | 26.2 | 5th |
| 5th | 25.86% | Power Play % | 23.83% | 11th |
| 6th | 81.55% | Penalty Kill % | 80.42% | 10th |
Lightning vs. Panthers Game Time and TV Channel
- When: Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: TBS
- Live Stream: Watch this match on Max (Regional restrictions may apply)
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
- Where: Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida
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