Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The regular season concludes with another edition of the "Florida Derby" as both squads prepare for the play-offs. While both squads have already secured their play-off spots, the stakes remain high — the Tampa Bay Lightning are aiming to retain their top-three position in the Eastern Conference standings, while the Florida Panthers have a chance to draw level on points. This fixture could prove crucial in finalising the seeding and determining first-round matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning have earned points in nine of their last ten games, with only one regulation loss in that stretch. They have been dominant at home, collecting 60 points from 40 games — the second-best home record in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Carolina Hurricanes. Offensively, the squad is led by Victor Kucherov, who tops the league in combined goals and assists (36+83). He is well supported by Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, and Brandon Hagel, who have together contributed 248 points (116 goals + 132 assists). Over their last five games, the Lightning have scored 20 goals and currently lead the league in total goals scored this season with 289. In goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy remains a key figure, boasting a 92.1% save percentage — fifth-best in the league — along with six shutouts.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers have struggled on the road, losing five straight away games while scoring only eight goals during that run. Defensively, they have conceded 19 goals over the same period. Their record against teams with potent offences has been disappointing, conceding three goals apiece to the Montreal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, and six to the Washington Capitals. The squad is also dealing with several absences: Matthew Tkachuk, Dmitry Kulikov, and Samuel Bennett are all unavailable, while Aaron Ekblad is currently serving a suspension.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Prediction
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in excellent form and have been particularly strong at home, averaging four goals per game in recent fixtures. The Florida Panthers, in contrast, have been poor on the road, losing five in a row and struggling at both ends of the rink. With a high-scoring offence and a dependable presence in goal, the Lightning are well-positioned to secure another two points.
