Tampa Bay vs Florida: NHL Match Prediction
On September 26, the Tampa Bay Lightning will take the ice for their second preseason game, looking to bounce back from a recent loss in front of their fans. The Lightning will play at home against the Florida Panthers, who have gotten off to a stronger start in the preseason. Will the Panthers keep their momentum going? Find out in our betting tip, where you can also check out the latest betting odds.

Command Analysis

Tampa Bay Lightning

Following a disappointing last season and an early playoff exit, the Tampa Bay Lightning made several roster changes. Notably, they lost forward Stamkos, who will be replaced by Atkinson and Guentzel. Additionally, they secured one of Nashville's top scoring defensemen in McDonagh.
The Lightning have already played their first preseason game against Carolina, suffering a narrow loss by just one goal, finishing 1-2. It's worth noting that both teams were not fielding their strongest lineups.
Notable Betting Trends
- Last season, Tampa averaged 3.5 goals per game
- The Lightning averaged 11 penalty minutes per game

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers managed to avoid significant losses during the offseason, retaining their core team. Notable departures include forward Tarasenko and defensemen Ekman-Larsson and Montour. As a result, the Panthers will need to largely rebuild their third line.
On the first day of preseason training, the Panthers played two matches with completely different lineups. The stronger squad secured a decisive victory over Nashville with a score of 6-2, while the second lineup also triumphed against the Predators, albeit less convincingly with a 3-2 win.
Interesting Betting Trends
- Florida averaged 2.44 goals against per game last season
- Florida averaged 13 penalty minutes per game
Trends
Bet First goal: "Florida"
In four out of five previous encounters, "Florida" scored first
1.98Bet Second period: total over 1.5 goals
In five out of six previous matchups, teams scored more than one goal in the second period
1.50Tip and bets
Florida has rested after their first preseason game and is ready to field their strongest lineup again. The Lightning aim to bounce back from their loss to Carolina at home, which means they are likely to put their best players on the ice. With both teams retaining their core lineup, we can gauge their current form based on last season, where the Panthers showed significantly stronger performance, evident from their convincing 4-1 series win in the first round of the playoffs.
Our prediction is a Florida win at 2.69
Total Bet
Both teams are not known for playing defensively and typically focus on offensive strategies to secure results. In the upcoming match, expect aggressive hockey from both sides, creating a great opportunity to bet on a total over.
Prediction – Total over 5.5 goals at 1.65
First Period Outcome Bet
Florida dominated Nashville in the first period, applying serious pressure from the opening minutes. The Panthers have the potential to achieve a similar result, making this a favorable betting option.
Prediction – Florida to win the first period at 3.00