Panthers vs Lightning NHL Predictions, Odds, & Best Bets for Game 3 (4/25): Goaltenders Steal Spotlight

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Panthers vs Lightning NHL Betting Trends

• Florida is 6-0 straight up in its last six games.
• Tampa Bay is 6-3 straight up in its last nine home games.
• The total hit the Under in seven of Florida's last eight games.
• The total hit the Under in six of Tampa Bay's last nine games vs. the Atlantic Division.
• The total hit the Under in 10 of the last 13 Florida-Tampa Bay matchups.

Panthers vs Lightning NHL Game 3 Predictions & Pick (4/25)

It's now or never for the Lightning, who must win tonight to get back into this series. Although teams have come back from 3-0 deficits before, it's hard to imagine a team beating this year's Panthers four games in a row.

Unfortunately for the Bolts, the Panthers have been handing them nothing but losses lately. Tampa Bay is only 1-6 SU in its last seven meetings with Florida, getting outscored 32-15 on aggregate throughout that stretch. While three of those losses were decided by one goal, it's clear that the Panthers are more than capable of blowing out their Atlantic Division rivals.

It remains to be seen if the series shifting to Amalie Arena will benefit the Lightning. After all, Jon Cooper's team has won six of its last nine home games and went 25-16 SU in Tampa during the regular season.

Time will tell if playing on home ice helps the Lightning get back into this series.

Even though the Panthers were solid on the road during the regular schedule, their play away from home has dropped off a bit. They've dropped five of their last seven road games, which includes allowing four-plus goals on four occasions.

It's also worth noting that the Panthers are only 4-13 SU as underdogs this season, whereas the Lightning are 29-23 SU in the role of the favorite.

With all of the above in mind, I'm backing the Lightning to win tonight. Tampa Bay looked solid in Game 2, even completely holding Florida off the scoresheet for the second and third periods before eventually surrendering the OT goal. I think that returning to Tampa will give the Lightning enough of a boost to get the series in half.

I'm also going to stick with an outright Lightning win for the best bet. There's some decent value behind their -110 moneyline odds — especially when you consider how much the Panthers have struggled as underdogs this year.

Panthers vs Lightning Game 3 NHL Prediction: TBL wins

Best Panthers vs Lightning NHL Bet: TBL ML (-110)

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Best Panthers vs Lightning NHL Game 3 Player Prop (4/25)

I feel like taking a goaltending prop tonight, so let's go with the Over on Andrei Vasilevskiy's 28.5-save total (-124).

Vasilevskiy has been busy since to beginning of this series. The Russian netminder has faced a total of 64 shots through the first two games and just had to make 34 saves in Game 2. As a result, he's now finished with the Over on this save prop four of his last five games.

With the Panthers averaging 36.2 shots on goal in their last nine games, Vasilevskiy should see more than enough volume to finish with the Over again.

Best Panthers vs Lightning Prop Bet: Andrei Vasilevskiy o28.5 Total Saves (-124)

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NHL Playoffs 2023-24 FAQ

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