Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Game Day Preview

An NHL Game Day Preview between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers

When: 8:00 PM EST, May 24th, 2021

Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL

Puckline: Lightning -1.5 | Panthers +1.5

Moneyline: Tampa Bay -110

OVER/UNDER Game Total: 6

Tampa Bay Lightning

Playoff Record: 3-1

Road Record: 2-0

Florida Panthers

Playoff Record: 1-3

Home Record: 0-2

Tampa Bay Lightning Vs Florida Panthers Game Day Preview

The Florida Panthers will host the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 5 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series on Monday night.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning come into Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead. Kucherov and Sergachev are still listed as “questionable” to play Monday night, following some late-game antics during Game 4. Kucherov returned from injury in time for the playoffs. The 27-year-old has not missed a step, tied for the playoff lead with nine points. Sergachev has only one point in the playoffs this season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy will be in net for the Lightning on Monday night. The Russian has played all but 23 seconds of the playoffs so far. Vasilevskiy holds a .919 save percentage and a 3.18 goals against average in the playoffs. If Vasilevskiy can continue his improved playoff performance, Game 5 will be no problem for Tampa Bay, meaning they will move on to the second round.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers head into Game 5 on the chopping block. Down 3-1 in the series, Florida has to win their next three games to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive. In order to try and spark inspiration in the team, Spencer Knight will make his playoff debut in Game 5.

Spencer Knight went 4-0-0 with a .919 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average this year. So far in the playoffs, Panther goalies have had an abysmal sub-.875 save percentage. Knight will look to change this story for the Panthers in Game 5.

Matchup Facts

1. The favorite, which is Tampa Bay, is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings.
2. The Panthers are 0-4 in their last four games after allowing five goals or more in their previous game.
3. The Panthers are 0-5 in their last five games when their opponent scores five goals or more in their previous game.
4. The Lightning are 15-7 in the last 22 meetings.
5. Spencer Knight will become the first goaltender to appear in the NCAA and Stanley Cup playoffs in the same season.