An NHL Game Day Preview between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers
When: 7:00 PM EST, May 10, 2021
Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL
Puckline: Lightning +1.5 | Panthers -1
Moneyline: Florida -125
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 6
Away Team
Record: 36-16-3
Road Record: 15-9-3
Home Team
Record: 36-14-5
Home Record: 19-5-3
Tampa Bay Lightning Vs Florida Panthers Game Day Preview
The Florida Panthers will play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at 7:00 PM EST in what will be the regular season finale for both teams.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning, 3rd in the Discover Central Division, are coming off a tough 5-1 loss to the Panthers on Saturday night. As a result of the loss, the Lightning need a regulation win in order to have home-ice advantage in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
But things won’t be easy on Monday night. Tampa Bay will be without forward Pat Maroon, who was suspended one game for unsportsmanlike conduct, and forward Barclay Goodrow, who is sidelined indefinitely with an upper-body injury. The Bolts will also be without Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Jan Rutta. However, the Lightning called up Fredrik Claesson and Ben Thomas from the taxi squad to give the team six healthy defensemen. Daniel Walcott will also make his NHL debut for Tampa.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers, 2nd in the Discover Central Division, are coming off a 5-1 win against the Lightning. The Panthers will have a fully healthy roster headed into this game. They will be tested, though, as the Lightning have a lot of firepower on their roster. But the Cats have a lot to play for: home-ice advantage in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Florida can get home-ice advantage with a regulation/overtime win, or an overtime loss.
One of the best revelations for the Panthers this season has been Sam Bennett. After recording only 12 points in 38 games with the Flames, Bennett has 15 points in only 12 games after being traded to the Panthers. Another great story for the Panthers has been Owen Tippett. As a rookie, Tippett (22-years-old) has seven goals and 18 points in 44 games.
Chris Driedger will start for Florida in net.