The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will renew their rivalry on Monday night in an Atlantic Division contest that is important for both teams. The Lightning enter this week’s action at the top of the Atlantic, while the defending champion Panthers sit in fifth place. Who will win when these Floridian teams face off? Keep reading to get my Panthers vs Lightning prediction for this matchup.
Our Panthers vs Lightning Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
- Date & Time: Monday, December 15, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
- Broadcast: NHL Network
Key Storylines
Recent Form
The Panthers (16-13-2) have won four of their last five games, most recently delivering a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars where Brad Marchand scored twice. Florida’s offense can be dangerous when it is clicking, but their consistency on the road has been a question, with a 6-7-0 record away from home.
The Lightning (18-11-3) have compiled a solid record and sit at the top of the Atlantic Division. They most recently dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the New York Islanders, snapping a two-game winning streak. Tampa will try to bounce back in this contest against their in-state rivals.
Goaltending
Goaltending will be a focal point in this meeting. Tampa Bay starter Andrei Vasilevskiy has been a star for the Lightning with steady play in net, but is on IR and will be replaced by Jonas Johansson. Florida’s netminding has improved of late, helping them secure points in close games. Sergei Bobrovsky has worked his GAA down to 2.84 and he will try to continue moving in the right direction tonight.
Key Skaters
Tampa Bay’s offense is led by Nikita Kucherov, who continues to produce at an elite level with 42 points so far this season. Brandon Hagel has chipped in crucial offense in key stretches, leading the Lightning with 18 goals on the year. Florida is led by Marchand, whose ability to generate scoring chances and finish on them gives the Panthers a weapon they can rely on consistently.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Nikita Kucherov | |
| Brad Marchand | |
| Brandon Hagel |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Lightning defeated the Panthers 3-1 in their first meeting of the season.
- The Panthers are just 9-22 on the puckline so far this season.
- Tampa is 14-18 on the puckline going into this game.
Panthers vs Lightning Model Projection
Final Thoughts
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