Florida Panthers - Tampa Bay Lightning predictions and free betting tips [23/04/2024]

The second match of the Stanley Cup 1/8 finals playoff series of the 2023-2024 season begins, featuring rivals from the Eastern Conference. Night hockey enthusiasts can look forward to a confrontation between Florida and Tampa Bay.

Florida

The Florida club took part in 82 official matches of the regular NHL championship of the 2023-2024 season. Florida has played 82 matches and scored 110 points, allowing it to take 3rd place in the Eastern Conference league table. Throughout the 2023-2024 season, Florida showed steady results, winning one game after another. Almost up to the very end of the regular championship, Florida claimed victory in the Eastern Conference but conceded to more successful rivals from Carolina and the Rangers. The final gap of Florida from the leaders from New York was just 4 points.

For some time, Florida led the Eastern Conference, but it wasn't the best throughout the entire tournament distance. In the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Florida encountered rivals representing Tampa Bay. The first 1/8 final match ended positively for Florida, even though it was quite challenging, considering the strength and pressure of the opponent who ranked 6th but is regarded as capable of pulling off a surprise. Florida won with a score of 3:2 although the game was very tough, as evident by the one-puck difference. Most likely, in the second match, it will be even harder for Florida, considering the rival's determination for revenge.

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay skaters had 82 official matches in the NHL regular season of the 2023-2024 season. In 82 matches, Tampa Bay managed to score 98 points, forcing it to take the 6th spot in the Eastern Conference league table. In the past regular championship, Tampa Bay played much weaker than their potential and ended up in a spot lower than what its current lineup deserves. By the end of the regular championship, Tampa Bay only took 6th place in the league table, falling behind rivals from Toronto, Boston, Florida, and the Rangers.

"The Lightning" could not score more than 100 points, unlike their closest competitors, ranked in the top-5 of the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay's final 6th place might cause the opponent to let down their guard, yet the first series match against Florida showed that "The Lightning" are dangerous and will fight. In their first match against Florida, Tampa Bay's players lost, yet were very close to keeping the win and taking the lead in the series. For a long time in the first match, the score stood at 3:1 in favour of Florida, yet "The Lightning" reduced the gap to one puck and they simply ran out of time for a life-saving shot.

Head-to-Head Meetings

Tampa Bay and Florida have faced off in 83 matches. Tampa Bay has 49 wins to its name, while Florida has come out stronger in 34 encounters.

Total Forecast

The individual total for Florida will be over 1 goal.

Forecast

Tampa Bay will win in overtime. The first match showed that everything is still far from clear in this series, and Florida is not the favourite. In the second match, Tampa Bay's players will have slightly more luck with implementation than in the first meeting, where "The Lightning" deserved to try their luck in the game until the first goal is scored.