Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
This encounter is not only the Sunshine State derby but also the second meeting between these teams in as many days, effectively mimicking a playoff format. Last night, the Florida Panthers triumphed away with a 4:2 victory. How will the Tampa Bay Lightning respond now that they're on the road?
Florida Panthers
Meetings between these teams are always a spectacle. One club are the reigning champions, while the other still reminisces about their Stanley Cup victories from a few years ago. However, the Lightning are currently not as strong. The Panthers clinched the first game thanks to power plays, both theirs and their opponent’s. Indeed, they capitalised on one of their two power play chances and punished the hosts’ lapses by scoring two shorthanded goals.
Tampa Bay Lightning
At Amalie Arena, the goalkeepers were Andrei Vasilevskiy and Spencer Knight. The Panthers’ backup performed better than Vasilevskiy, with save percentages of 90.5% against 88%. In this encounter, Sergei Bobrovsky and Jonas Johansson are expected to play, as even goalkeepers find it tough to endure back-to-back games. The Lightning’s Swedish goaltender is considerably less reliable compared to his Russian counterpart, allowing 3.84 goals per game versus 2.79.
Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction
Given these circumstances, it is easy to envisage a win for the Florida Panthers, particularly since they have emerged victorious in their last four matches in Sunrise.
