The Florida Panthers will try to keep their season alive as they play Game 4 of their second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. It's time to continue our NHL odds series with a Panthers-Lightning prediction and pick. 

 

The Lightning defeated the Panthers 5-1 in Game 3 on Sunday. Corey Perry started things off with a goal by redirecting a shot from Ryan McDonagh. Then, San Reinhart tied it with a power-play goal off a beautiful pass from Jonathan Huberdeau. The Lightning retook the lead in the second off a shot from Eric Cernak that zoomed past the glove side of Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers never recovered as the Lightning scored another goal in the period, followed by two in the third to seal the deal. The Lightning are attempting to eliminate the Panthers from the playoffs for the second year in a row. 

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Panthers-Lightning odds.

NHL odds: Panthers-Lightning Odds

Panthers: +1.5 (-240)

Lightning: -1.5 (-195)

Over: 6.5 (+100)

Under: 6.5 (-122)

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Why The Panthers Could Cover The Spread

Florida put together the best squad in team history. However, the Panthers have not played to those expectations in these playoffs. They struggled to get past the Washington Capitals, taking the sixth game in overtime. They have now stumbled against the Lightning and are now on the brink of elimination. They have the talent to come back, but it is just a matter of executing. 

The Panthers won 55 percent of the faceoffs in Game 3 but struggled to do anything with their opportunities. Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov each had an issue, but neither did much else nor did they have help. Claude Giroux produced a -3 when he was on the ice, while Patric Hornqvist delivered a -2. Neither player contributed to the successful effort, and both were on the ice for critical Lightning goals. 

It was often a breakdown in coverage that led to Lightning goals. Likewise, the Panthers could not get the best shots off. While they fired 35 shots at Andrei Vasilevskiy, they were not threatening enough to put the game in peril. Vasilevskiy made 34 saves, robbing the Panthers of some prime opportunities. In addition to Vasilevskiy, the Lightning blocked 19 shots. The Panthers must produce better shots to give themselves stronger opportunities to score. The Panthers delivered 45 hits, so the physicality was working for them. However, they could not turn it into points. 

The Panthers will cover the spread if Bobrovsky delivers the performance of his life. In addition to that, Florida must take better shots. Barkov, Huberdeau, Giroux, and Hornqvist must produce with the season on the line to keep the heartbeat going. 

Why The Lightning Could Cover The Spread

Tampa Bay did the right things it needed. Despite losing the faceoff battle and the hits battle, the Lightning still played this game like they had complete control throughout. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champs executed like the veterans they are and fired the right shots on goal. Now, they must fire the finishing shot and prevent this series from going back to Sunrise. 

Vasilevskiy is playing lights out and is a major reason why the Lightning are a win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Additionally, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov have performed magnificently. Stamkos had two goals in Game 3, while Kucherov had a goal and three assists. Then, there is Victor Hedman. He has three assists in this series and two goals and eight assists in these playoffs. His ability to be everywhere on the ice has been beneficial to the Lightning, and he is a gigantic reason why they are attempting to win their third straight Stanley Cup title. The Lightning probably don't win two without him. 

The Lightning will cover the spread if Vasilevskiy plays to the elite level he displayed in Game 3. Also, Tampa covers if Stamkos, Kucherov, and Hedman play to their potential and deliver the finishing blows to a Panthers team that had so much potential this season. 

Final Panthers-Lightning Prediction & Pick

It looks bleak, but there is always hope. Last year, the Panthers fell behind 2-0 after two home losses. Then, they stole Game 3 and forced the series to eventually go back to Sunrise. The Lightning took those Panthers down in six games. Do these Panthers have the ability to keep the series going? Only three teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. The Panthers are attempting to become part of history. However, they must win one game at a time. Expect the Panthers to come out strong and find a way to win this one and send it back to Sunrise. 

Final Panthers-Lightning Prediction & Pick: Panthers Moneyline (+104)