An NHL Game Day Preview between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning
When: 12:30 PM EST, May 22, 2021
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Puckline: Panthers +1.5 | Lightning -1.5
Moneyline: Tampa Bay -150
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 6
Florida Panthers
Playoff Record: (1-2)
Road Record: (1-0)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playoff Record: (2-1)
Home Record: (0-1)
Florida Panthers Vs Tampa Bay Lightning Game Day Preview
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Florida Panthers in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-1 lead in the series. Puck drop for Game 4 is at 12:30 PM EST.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers avoided going down 3-0 in the series with a 6-5 win on Thursday night. Ryan Lomberg scored the OT winner in that game to give the Panthers their first playoff win in the series. Florida looks to continue their momentum in order to tie the series at two games apiece.
Sergei Bobrovsky will start in net for Florida. While the 32-year-old started Game 1, Bobrovsky saw the starting role for Games 2 and 3 go to Chris Driedger but made a perfect relief appearance against the Lightning on Thursday, stopping all nine of the shots he faced and helping the Panthers secure an overtime victory. Now, Bobrovsky will look to continue his momentum from the last game, and beat the high-powered Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning look to bounce back after blowing a 5-3 lead in the third period last game. The Lightning hope to go up 3-1 in the series with a win in Game 4.
As expected, Andrei Vasilevskiy will start in net again for Tampa Bay. Just three games into the first-round playoff series, Vasilevskiy has allowed 11 goals, including a season-high six in Florida’s 6-5 overtime win Thursday in Game 3. He didn’t allow more than 12 in any postseason series last season, showing how he hasn’t played his best thus far.
Matchup Facts
- The Panthers are 0-4 in their last four games when their opponent scores five goals or more in their previous game.
- The Florida Panthers have never won back-to-back playoff games on the road.
- The Panthers are 4-0 in their last four games after scoring five goals or more in their previous game.
- The Panthers are 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in Tampa Bay.