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Coming off three straight come-from-behind victories during their first round match-up against the Washington Capitals, the Florida Panthers have established themselves as the comeback kings of the NHL. However, they may not be as fortunate during the Eastern Conference Semifinals when they'll be tasked with taking down the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
Going up against a battle-tested bunch like the Tampa Bay Lightning will be the ultimate test for the Panthers. Currently in pursuit of their first Stanley Cup title, Florida will look to knockoff the Bolts and pull off a statement win in the second round. Without further ado, let's discuss three bold predictions for the Panthers during their second round series against the Lightning.
Panthers predictions vs Lightning in 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
1. Claude Giroux, Carter Verhaeghe, and Aleksander Barkov will wreak havoc against Tampa Bay
During their epic comeback win in Game 6 against the Capitals, Claude Giroux, Carter Verhaeghe, and Aleksander Barkov led the way for the Panthers. The star trio combined for three goals, three assists, and six points in their overtime victory.
Despite going up against the most complete team in the league, the Giroux, Verhaeghe, and Barkov will definitely have something special in store for the Bolts. So watchout for this multi-skilled triumvirate to wreak havoc and continue filling out the stat sheet throughout this thrilling series.
2. Sergei Bobrovsky will put on a defensive masterclass against the Lightning
Last round against Washington, Sergei Bobrovsky had a goals against average of 2.79 and a save percentage of 90.6 while anchoring Florida's defense. More of the same can be expected when he goes up against the offensive firepower of Tampa Bay in the East Semis. His stellar foot work, fast glove, and stick skills all played a major part in the Panthers winning three straight games against the Capitals.
Advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and going up against the Lightning will certainly come with plenty of challenges. However, he played exceptionally against a seasoned contender like the Caps and it's fair to assume that Bobrovsky could repeat this performance against the reigning champs.
3. The Panthers will win the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals
Through their grit, resilience, and balanced team play the Panthers have proven themselves as legit contenders for Lord Stanley's Cup. In all fairness, this won't be a cake walk by any means as they'll be faced with a tall order. Taking out the powerful Tampa Bay Lightning won't come with ease, but the Florida Panthers possess the depth, skill, and toughness to handle any challenge that comes their way.
In their relentless pursuit of a championship, the Panthers will be bringing the fight and ready to overtake the Lightning in the second round. Under the tutelage of head coach Andrew Brunette, the Panthers have been able to battle through all kinds of adversity through the early goings of the NHL postseason.
After holding their ground in the first round, the Panthers are now in prime position to keep their hot streak going and make a title run in 2022. Plus beating the Lightning could make the Panthers the best hockey team in Florida.