Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Game 5: Eastern Conference Playoffs – First Round

The Tampa Bay Lightning stayed alive in the series and now will try to make it interesting when they visit the Florida Panthers on Monday at Amerant Bank Arena.

The Lightning should not be underestimated

The Tampa Bay Lightning went all-in in Game 4 to avoid being swept and are still alive after a 6-3 win. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring spree in the first period, and then Brandon Hagel scored shorthanded, followed by Brayden Point’s goal, to put Lihtning 3-0 up in the first period. In the second, the Panthers got only one point short, but Stamkos and Nicholas Paul sealed the deal for the Lightning to keep them in the series against their state rival.

The Panthers are off to a good start

The Florida Panthers have been among the top teams in the Eastern Conference for a while now, but they are yet to make a significant success in the playoffs. They took a lead in the opening playoff series for the first time in 27 years and then built it to 3-0 against the Lightning. However, they could not finish the sweep in Game 4. The Panthers fell into a deep hole in the first period and Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored in the second to bring them to 4-3. The Panthers were outplayed in the final period and now the series moves back to Sunrise with Florida leading 3-1.

Betting Trends

Florida has won 7 of the last 9 games against Tampa Bay. The Panthers 7-1 SU in the last 8 games overall, 7-0 SU in the last 7 home games and 4-1 SU in the last five games against teams from the Eastern Conference. The Lightning are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games overall, 1-4 SU in the last five games on the road and 2-5 SU in the last 7 games against teams from the Atlantic Division.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Florida Panthers won the playoffs well, winning the first three games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. All three were pretty close, but things looked way different in the next one. With their backs against the wall, the Lightning showed character and denied being swept, scoring six goals. Now the series moves back to Sunrise, where the Panthers have won the last seven games overall. It seems like everything goes in their favor, but the Lightning are a tough team led by Nikita Kucherov; they will steal the win and stay alive in the series.