Quite ironically, the sunny state of Florida is home to two of the best ice hockey teams in the NHL; those being the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions the Tampa Bay Lightning and the top-seeded Florida Panthers. These two Floridian franchises collide on Tuesday to kickstart a seven-game affair that will have equal parts scoring explosions and huge goaltending performances.

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out some slick assists to get bets into the back of the net. This time, let’s break down the upcoming Game 1 East Division Final matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers, along with the latest NHL odds and information about the teams and players involved.

Lightning vs. Panthers Game 1 Information

• When: Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
• TV: TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS
• Radio: 970 WFLA (Lightning) // Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Panthers)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Lightning (+142) / Panthers (-164)

READ MORE: Blues vs. Avalanche Game 1 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds and Preview – May 17th, 2022

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Lightning?

After a grueling series that went the full seven-game distance, the Tampa Bay Lightning prevailed and eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This gave the Lightning a ninth-straight postseason series victory; a feat that only six other NHL teams of the past have accomplished.

The biggest draw of the series will be the goaltending battle between two outstanding Russian netminders. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy was clutch yet again in the series closer against Toronto, as the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner made 30 saves and allowed just one goal in Game 7.

It goes without saying that the Lightning’s formidable offensive core is healthy and ready to make another deep run to the title. Between Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Brayden Point amongst many others, the Panthers will have their hands full containing the Bolts’ attack. Tampa Bay split its four games against Florida this season, which goes to show how close these two teams match up as well.

Why Bet on the Florida Panthers?

Elsewhere in the Keys, the Florida Panthers had a relatively easier path to reach the next stage of the playoffs, needing just six games to oust the Washington Capitals from the picture. That win over the Panthers gave Florida its first playoff series victory since 1996 and the team did so with a more potent firepower potential than the Lightning did this season.

The Panthers set a new franchise record with their 122 points from the regular season, which was also enough for them to secure home-ice advantage for the entirety of the postseason. The reigning Presidents Trophy winner also led the league in goals scored, with Carter Verhaeghe (12 points in the playoffs) and Gustav Forsling (tied for the lead with a plus-minus of plus-10 in this postseason) stepping up in the opening round.

Last but not least, the Panthers will have two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky manning the pipes. Bobrovsky was tied for the league lead in regular-season wins with none other than fellow Russian Vasilevskiy and has had recent success against the Lightning in the Playoffs. He won four straight games back in 2019 as the Columbus Blue Jackets swept Tampa Bay with Bobrovsky allowing just a total of eight goals in the series.

Lightning vs. Panthers Betting Trends

• The Lightning are 6-5 in their last 11 road games.
• The Bolts are 6-4 in their last 10 meetings against Florida.
• The totals went under in four of the last five meetings between these two teams.
• The Panthers are 13-2 in their last 15 home games.
• The Panthers are 5-4 in their last nine games as favorites to win.
• The totals went under in four of Florida’s last six homestands.

Lightning vs. Panthers Expert Betting Predictions

There’s nothing like a virtually even-matched series between two of the best teams in the league as we speak. The Lightning have Cup-winning experience on their side, but the Panthers looked far more impressive in the first round than the Bolts. Consider Tuesday’s Game 1 showdown a toss-up, with the winner of the opening bout setting the pace odds-wise for the rematch in Game 2 Thursday.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.