The Tampa Bay Lightning’s dream for a three-peat is still alive, but it’s not about to get easier for them, as they get the Florida Panthers in the second round. The Panthers eliminated the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions, Washington Capitals, in the previous round and are now ready to rumble with another solid squad. Check out our preview of this Lightning vs. Panthers 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs showdown.
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Betting Preview for the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers 2022 Playoffs Round 2 Game 1 on May 17, 2022
Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise
When: Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Tampa Bay Lightning (odds) vs. Florida Panthers (odds) – view all 2021-22 NHL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning (odds)
Regular Season Record: 51-23-8
The Lightning are still the defending two-time Stanley Cup champions after edging out the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the first round. The mettle of Tampa Bay can’t be understated. This is a team that knows what it takes to get out of a bind, as evidenced by a comeback from 3-2 down in the Toronto series punctuated by a Game 7 win on the road. When it comes down to it, goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is someone Tampa Bay can completely rely on in high-pressure games, and he showed that with a performance in Game 7 versus the Maple Leafs. Meanwhile, the Lightning could potentially miss the services of center Brayden Point after he suffered a lower-body injury in the win over Toronto. But given that he was able to return after briefly exiting the contest, it’s fair to expect that he’d be ready to help the Lightning on the ice in Game 1 versus a Florida team that took longer than projected in disposing of the Washington Capitals.
The Over is 6-4 in the Lightning’s last 10 games on the road.
Betting on the Florida Panthers (odds)
Regular Season Record: 58-18-6
Florida got heavily tested by the Caps in the first round, as mentioned earlier. The Panthers were down 2-1 after three games of that series and gave up the first goal of the contest from Games 4 to 6 but always managed to find a way to win, thanks to their explosive offense. After all, the Panthers finished the regular season as the no. 1 team in the NHL with 4.11 goals for per game. The Panthers also dominated the possession battle versus Washington, coming away with a 54.39 CF% in the series. Carter Verhaeghe is playing the role of the playoff hero thus far for the Panthers, as the forward racked up 12 points on 6 goals and 6 assists in the first round. Claude Giroux has also shown up with 7 points on 3 goals and 4 assists. There’s so much forward depth for the Panthers, who will be looking to wake up their slumbering power-play attack that did not strike at all in the Washington series.
The Panthers are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Lightning win, 3-2.
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