The Friday NHL schedule will get underway with a matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers. The Lightning (1-3-0) have reached the Stanley Cup Finals three straight years and are still one of the top teams in the league. On Tuesday, Tampa Bay was unable to protect a two-goal lead during a 3-2 home loss versus lowly Philadelphia.
Tampa Bay C Steven Stamkos scored two power play goals and Nikita Kucherov assisted on both. Vladislav Namestinikov and Victor Hedman also assisted for the Lightning, who out shot the Flyers by a 38-24 margin.
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The Florida Panthers were the highest scoring team in the league a season ago, but bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. On Wednesday, Florida held off a late charge from Philadelphia to secure a 4-3 home victory. The Panthers (3-1-0) won the faceoff battle by a 42-25 margin and killed five of six power plays.
C Carter Verhaeghe staked Florida to a 2-0 lead with first period goals on assists from Aleksander Barkov. Newly acquired Matthew Tkachuk added a pair of assists for the Panthers.
Recent Betting Trends
- Lightning are 73-26 in their last 99 vs. Atlantic.
- Panthers are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. Atlantic.
- Under is 15-6 in Lightning last 21 overall.
- Over is 21-10-4 in Panthers last 35 home games.
- Lightning are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Florida.
Free NHL Pick:
Tampa Bay Lightning -111