Tuesday’s game one was a major disappointment for fans, gamblers, and the Panthers. Consider that Florida was lifeless in their game one home matchup against the rival Lightning. Tampa Bay took suffocated the Cats with a dominant performance. In like manner to their game seven wins at Toronto, the Bolts blocked shots and sacrificed. Florida was dumbfounded. Now comes a critical game two on Thursday night. A Florida loss with the NHL betting odds would put them down 0-2 heading to Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is the 2-time defending Stanley Cup champion.
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Game 2
| Date and Time: | Thursday, May 19, 2022, 7 p.m. p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Florida |
| TV Coverage: | TNT |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | +1½ (-175) | 6½ (-115) | +140 |  |
| Panthers | -1½ (+155) | 6½ (-105) | -160 | |
| ||||
SBG Odds Overview – A Split Decision for Gamblers on Thursday
Game two offers a stark contrast to online betting choices for gamblers. First is the obvious theory that Florida will play a much more effective game on Thursday night. The Panthers were President’s Trophy winners as the best team in the regular season. That award is indicative of their ability. However, playoff hockey is an entirely different sport from regular season hockey. Florida got a textbook lesson in the difference in game one. Tampa Bay did the little things that the Panthers would not do.
Florida is acutely aware of the danger in taking a second loss in this series on home ice. Naturally, the Panthers don’t want to face the defending Stanley Cup champions down 0-2 at Tampa Bay. If there is a game where the Panthers can be expected to go all out, it is game two on Thursday.
On the other hand, the Lightning makes for a potential Wise Guy and contrarian bet. The masses will prefer the more desperate Panthers on home ice. But the sharps realize that the Lightning will get a better price based on that theory. It is not easy to take the Bolts to win a second consecutive playoff game at Florida. Thus, that is what brings potentially better value.
A Game One Clinic Performance by Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay dominated the Panthers in game one 4-1 as +141 underdogs. The game went under a total of 6.5. The first star of the match was Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasi stopped 33 out of 34 shots and matched his sharp play from game seven at Toronto. Ironically, Florida drew first blood on a goal by Anthony Duclair. Following that, the Lightning shut down the Panthers and scored four unanswered goals.
Lightning Owns Goaltending Difference
Specifically, the Lightning has a large advantage between the pipes with Vasilevskiy. Vasi is a 4-time NHL All-Star and won the 2019 Vezina Trophy. Last year he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
By contrast, Sergei Bobrovsky is not in the same class as Vasilevskiy. Bob lost his net in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Lightning. He remains a shaky performer when it matters most.
Lightning at Panthers SBG Free Picks
Late on, the Lighting has beaten the NHL lines in four of their last six games at Florida. Game one was remedial training for everyone on how difficult it is to beat the Lightning in the playoffs.
Lightning at Panthers SBG Best Bet: Tampa Bay Lightning.