The NHL returns after the All-Star weekend with this in-state and divisional rivalry game on Monday, February 6, and here you can check out the best Lightning vs. Panthers betting pick and odds.

Tampa Bay is looking for the fourth straight win when they visit Florida at FLA Live Arena. The Lightning are -149 moneyline favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. These Atlantic Division rivals will meet for the third time this season, the Lightning lead the series 2-0.

Lightning swept the home stand with a win over Los Angeles

The Tampa Bay Lightning (32-15-0-1, 23-25 ATS) bounced back from a pair of defeats with three consecutive victories. The Lightning successfully swept a three-game homestay and concluded it with a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. They will face the Panthers on Monday, after which the Lightning will return home to meet San Jose and Colorado. Tampa Bay now moved up to the 5th place in the Eastern Conference with 65 points, 18 behind the leaders Boston Bruins.

Despite attempting only 25 shots, the Lightning managed to score five goals in a win over the Kings. They had a 4-1 lead late in the second period and the visitors had no chance to return to the game. Five different players scored for Tampa, but the first star was Nick Perbix, who registered three assists. This year, Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning in points and is 4th best player in the NHL with 72 (G 19, A 53). Steven Stamkos has 57 (G 24, A 33) and Brayden Point contributes 54 points (G 29, A 25).

Andrei Vasilevskiy (23-12-1) is expected to start between the sticks against Florida on Monday. The 28-year-old is allowing 2.51 goals per game this season with a .918 SV% and no shutouts.

Panthers snapped a losing run with an OT win over the Bruins

The Florida Panthers (24-22-5-1, 20-32 ATS) were on a three-game losing skid but ended that negative streak with a 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins at home. The Panthers opened their five-game homestay with a loss to the Kings, and after this meeting with Tampa Bay, they will welcome the Sharks and Avalanche. Florida currently has 54 points, 11 behind the in-state rivals Lightning.

The Panthers trailed on three occasions against the Bruins but managed to equalize each time, including Aleksander Barkov’s equalizer with just three seconds remaining in regulation. Sam Reinhart scored a winner for Florida only 17 seconds into overtime. Alex Lyon was excellent at the goal with 38 saves. Barkov led the side with three points, while Matthew Tkachuk added a pair of assists. So far this campaign, Matthew Tkachuk is the team’s most valuable player with 66 points (G 25, A 41), followed by Barkov with 47 (G 14, A 33) and Carter Verhaeghe (G 26, A 13) and Brandon Montour (G 10, A 33), who each has 43 points.

Alex Lyon (3-2-1) is slated to start at the goal against Tampa Bay on Monday. The 30-year-old is surrendering 3.89 goals per contest this season with a .892 SV% and no shutouts.

RW Patric Hornqvist (concussion), G Sergei Bobrovsky (lower body), LW Anthony Duclair (Achilles), and G Spencer Knight (upper body) are out indefinitely and will not feature on Monday against the Lightning.

Trends:

Tampa Bay:

  • 25-9 in the last 34 overall
  • 8-3 in the last 11 after scoring five goals or more in their previous game

Florida:

  • 8-21 in the last 29 games following a win
  • 1-5 in the last six Monday games

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Pick

Both teams have top-10 offenses, but the advantage is on Tampa’s side when it comes to defense. The Lightning are allowing 2.92 goals per game opposite Florida’s 3.50 goals per contest. Alex Lyon is the Panthers’ weak link and I am backing the visitors to exploit this fact and score 4+ goals against a goaltender who was great in his latest start. However, Lyon conceded 18 goals in his previous four starts, so Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, ad co. shouldn’t have a hard job against Lyon on Monday.

Pick: Take the Lightning to win (-149)

The Total

Florida scored at least four goals in seven of the last nine games, so I do expect the Panthers to also be productive offensively in this one. The Panthers scored just three goals in two meetings with Tampa Bay this year, but this one should be different. Vasilevskiy was solid of late; he conceded just two goals in each of his last three starts, but I believe two goals from the hosts should do the trick for an Over bet. Over is 6-1 in the Lightning’s last seven games playing on three or more days rest; Over is 7-0 in the Panthers’ previous seven overall, while Over is 12-3-2 in Florida’s last 17 home games.

Pick: Go Over 6.5 goals (-110)