Lightning vs. Panthers Prediction
Even with the scoring power on both sides, is the total set too high for Thursday night’s matchup between the Lightning and Panthers at 7:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
023 Tampa Bay Lightning (+115) at 024 Florida Panthers (-135); o/u 6
7:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, December 30, 2021
Tampa Bay Lightning DFS Spin
Maxime Lagace allowed four goals on 31 shots in Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens. Lagace drew the start on Tuesday with both Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliott out due to COVID concerns. While the 28-year-old netminder failed to hold a 3-2 lead in the third period courtesy of goals surrendered to Kale Clague and David Savard, he was given a second shot of life when Corey Perry scored against Sam Montembleaut with just 20 seconds remaining in the third period. Overtime would last just 36 seconds before Ondrej Palat ended the whole shebang with a walk-off goal. Narrow win set aside, Lagace was struggling to a 3.86 GAA and .861 save percentage in seven appearances down in the AHL prior to Tuesday’s start. He could see another opportunity or two moving forward, but just until Vasilevskiy and Elliott are ready to rock and/or roll. There is no fantasy intrigue, here. The Lightning will mix it up with the Panthers on Thursday so long as everybody can stay out of the sick bay.
Florida Panthers DFS Spin
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30-of-33 shots in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the New York Rangers. Bobrovsky was fine, if not spectacular, while allowing goals to Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider in the first, second and third periods, respectively. Kreider’s goal, we’ll note, came with under a minute remaining in the contest and the Panthers up 4-2 on the scoreboard. With this one in the books, Bobrovsky has now allowed at least three goals in half of his 20 starts on the year. The Panthers will meet up with the Lightning on Thursday as they wrap a back-to-back.
Lightning vs. Panthers Betting Prediction
The under has cashed in four straight meetings between these two teams and is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings in Sunrise. The under is also 4-1 in the Lightning’s last five games playing on one day of rest and is 5-2 in their last seven games versus Atlantic opponents. On the other side, the under is 9-4-2 in the Panthers’ last 15 games playing on zero rest and is 7-2 in their last nine games versus Atlantic opponents.
NHL BETTING PREDICTION: LIGHTNING/PANTHERS UNDER 6
