- The Tampa Bay Lightning are -120 favourites in Game 5 at Amalie Arena.
- After taking Game 4, the Florida Panthers have -1000 odds to win the series.
- Tampa Bay is a +650 underdog to reach Round 2.
On Monday night, the Florida Panthers took a commanding lead in the Battle of Florida, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 at Amerant Bank Arena to take a 3-1 series lead.
Defencemen Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones scored third-period goals 11 seconds apart, helping Florida flip the script in a flash after the Lightning had struck twice in the same duration to take a 2-1 lead in the second period.
Before the series shifts back to Tampa Bay for Game 5 on Wednesday night, I’ll assess the latest NHL odds and make my best hockey bets for Panthers vs. Lightning.
Panthers vs. Lightning Odds: Game 5
- Panthers spread: +1.5
- Lightning spread: -1.5
- Total: 5.5
Panthers vs. Lightning Series Winner Odds
After taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Panthers’ odds to win the series shortened from -275 to -1000 in the latest NHL betting lines. Florida now has an implied probability of 90.9% to reach Round 2.
Meanwhile, the Lightning saw their odds fall from +220 to +650, implying a 13.3% chance of advancing.
Panthers series winner odds: -1000
Lightning series winner odds: +650
Panthers vs. Lightning Predictions & Best Bets for Game 5
Tampa Bay will try to stave off elimination in Game 5, and I like its chances of extending this series. The Bolts posted a 29-8-4 record at Amalie Arena during the regular season and never lost three consecutive home games at any point of the campaign.
After dropping Games 1 and 2 on home ice to the Panthers, that streak will be put to the test again on Wednesday night. However, I think the Lightning (-120) will send this series back to Sunrise.
I’m also taking the Lightning to score the first goal (-120), something Jon Cooper’s squad has yet to do in this series. That statistic is shocking since Tampa Bay scored first in 49 of its 81 regular-season games and 31 of its 41 home contests, both of which were the most in the NHL.
I don’t usually rely on narrative when placing an NHL bet online, but the Bolts are a desperate team and should come out with more urgency. They will also have the home crowd behind them and the advantage of the first change, allowing Cooper to get Nikita Kucherov and Co. out there in favourable matchups.
Before the series began, I backed the Lightning (+100) to reach Round 2. And while that result remains possible, especially since a potential Game 7 would be played in Tampa Bay, I think the defending Stanley Cup champs will ultimately prove to be too much.
While there’s very little value in Florida (-1000) to advance, I love the price on the Panthers to win the series 4-2 (+230) and clinch in Game 6 on home ice.
Panthers vs. Lightning Series Schedule
| Game | Date | Time | Arena |
| Game 1 | April 22 | 8:30 p.m. ET | Amalie Arena |
| Game 2 | April 24 | 6:30 p.m. ET | Amalie Arena |
| Game 3 | April 26 | 1 p.m. ET | Amerant Bank Arena |
| Game 4 | April 28 | 7 p.m. ET | Amerant Bank Arena |
| Game 5 | April 30 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Amalie Arena |
| Game 6 | May 2 | TBA | Amerant Bank Arena |
| Game 7 | May 4 | TBA | Amalie Arena |
Panthers vs. Lightning Playoff History
This will be the fourth playoff meeting between the Panthers and Lightning since 2021 and the third in the opening round.
Tampa Bay triumphed in two of the previous three, with the winner of each series going on to represent the East in the Stanley Cup Final.
