Lightning vs. Panthers Game 1 NHL Picks: Battle of Florida Starts in Sunrise

Ryan Gilbert

Last Updated: May 17, 2022 5:55 AM EDT • 2 min 25 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers and Erik Cernak #81 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fights for the puck during a game at Amalie Arena on October 19, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Mike Ehrmann / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The Battle of Florida kicks off on Tuesday night with the Florida Panthers hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Read on for our Lightning-Panthers Game 1 picks.

The second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs starts on Tuesday night with the Battle of Florida. The Lightning dispatched the Panthers in six games in the first round last year en route to their second straight Stanley Cup. However, Florida comes in as the Presidents’ Trophy winner and favorite in this 2021-22 second-round series.

The Panthers overcame a 2-1 series deficit in the first round to beat the Washington Capitals in six games. The Lightning went the full seven games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and advanced with a Game 7 win in Toronto on Saturday night.

Here are my Lightning-Panthers picks and predictions for Tuesday’s NHL matchup (odds via BetMGM and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale).

Lightning vs. Panthers Game Info

Date/Time: Tuesday, May 17, 7 p.m. ETTV: TNT, CBC, TVAS, SNLocation: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL

Lightning vs. Panthers Odds Analysis

The Panthers opened as -143 favorites and the line has moved significantly in their favor. Florida is now a -160 favorite at DraftKings for Game 1. Tampa Bay is +140 after opening at +121. Lightning forward Brayden Point is doubtful for the game, likely impacting that movement, and the Panthers have received over 60% of the tickets and handle.

The total opened at 6.5 and is up to seven at some books. BetMGM has the total set at 6.5 (Over -135, Under +110). You can get Over 7 (+104) at Unibet and Under 7 (-120) at DraftKings. The public and sharps are strongly aligned in backing the Over.

https://twitter.com/CaesarsSports/status/1526394899339390978

Lightning vs. Panthers Picks

Panthers (-160 via DraftKings) ????Over 6.5 (-135 via BetMGM) ???Carter Verhaeghe Over 0.5 points (-130 via DraftKings) ????

Lightning vs. Panthers Predictions

Panthers (-162)

Point is doubtful for Tampa Bay and he would be a huge loss. The Lightning’s depth is already being tested and an injury to one of their top forwards certainly won’t help.

Tampa Bay seemed to empty the tank in the first round against Toronto. The Bolts beat the Leafs in seven games, but they were outscored 24-23 in the series. Meanwhile, the Panthers picked up steam in the first round with three straight wins after falling behind 2-1. They outscored the Capitals 20-19 overall, including 12-8 in the last three games.

These teams play similar styles and split their regular-season meetings 2-2 but Florida has the upper hand due to Point’s injury and its forward depth. The Panthers should jump out to an early lead against their in-state rival.

Over 6.5 (-135)

The last two games between these teams each had 12 total goals. The Panthers won 9-3 in December and the Lightning won 8-4 in the last week of the season.

Florida averaged 4.11 goals per game in the regular season, by far the most in the league. Tampa Bay was seventh with 3.48 goals per contest.

Both of these teams are capable of putting at least two or three goals on the board and it should be a high-scoring Game 1.

Verhaeghe Over 0.5 points (-130)

Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe has emerged as a valuable weapon. He’s currently slotted on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Claude Giroux, both of which have odds to record a point around -200 or lower.

Verhaeghe had points in five of the six games in Round 1, totaling 12 points (six goals, six assists) for the Panthers. He’s in a great position to put points on the board and his hot postseason should continue on Tuesday.

Where to Bet on Lightning-Panthers Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook PointsBet BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Lightning-Panthers picks made on 5/17/2022 at 3:14 a.m. ET.

Written By:
Ryan Gilbert

Ryan Gilbert is a contributing writer at SportsbookReview.com, covering hockey and baseball. He is the lead NHL writer and editor at the Sports Gambling Podcast Network, where he also co-hosts the Hockey Gambling Podcast. Ryan covers the Philadelphia Flyers for Broad Street Hockey and co-founded Sons of Penn. His past stops include NBC Sports Regional Networks and NHL.com.