Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Game 1 Prediction 05/17/22
Updated October 28, 2026
Updated October 28, 2026
The battle for Florida returns to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference second-round series on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Tampa Bay needed seven games to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Florida advanced in six games against the Washington Capitals. Both teams survived difficult opening-round matchups, setting up another playoff meeting between the Sunshine State rivals.
The Panthers entered the series with the NHL's best regular-season record and one of the league's most dangerous offenses. Tampa Bay brought championship experience, elite goaltending, and a roster that had already won two consecutive Stanley Cups.
Florida had the stronger regular season, but eliminating the defending champions presented a different challenge.
Game information | Details |
|---|---|
Matchup | Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers |
Date | Tuesday, May 17, 2022 |
Time | 7:00 PM ET |
Venue | FLA Live Arena |
Location | Sunrise, Florida |
Competition | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Second Round |
Game | 1 of a best-of-seven series |
TV | TNT |
Original ATS.io pick | Florida Panthers |
Final score | Tampa Bay 4, Florida 1 |
Florida entered as the home team and the Presidents' Trophy winner.
The original article did not include readable moneyline or puck-line prices in its archived odds section. Historical betting markets listed a game total of 6.5 goals, although prices varied by sportsbook.
The matchup presented an interesting decision for bettors. Florida had been dominant at home, but Tampa Bay had considerable postseason experience and one of the NHL's best goaltenders in Andrei Vasilevskiy.
For current hockey markets, visit our NHL odds and betting coverage.
The Eastern Conference second-round series featured two teams with legitimate Stanley Cup ambitions.
Florida finished the 2021-22 regular season with a 58-18-6 record and 122 points, the best mark in the NHL.
The Panthers also led the league with 337 goals, averaging more than four per game during the regular season.
Tampa Bay finished 51-23-8 with 110 points.
The Lightning had been less dominant than Florida over the full regular season, but their playoff pedigree remained a significant factor.
Tampa Bay entered the series having won the Stanley Cup in both 2020 and 2021.
The Lightning also eliminated Florida in six games during the first round of the 2021 playoffs, adding another layer to this rivalry.
Tampa Bay advanced to the second round after defeating Toronto 2-1 in Game 7 of their opening series.
The Lightning had to overcome a difficult matchup against a talented Maple Leafs team, but their experience proved valuable in the deciding game.
Through seven playoff games, Tampa Bay was averaging 3.29 goals per contest while allowing 3.43.
Nikita Kucherov led the Lightning with eight points and six assists.
Ondrej Palat had scored a team-high three goals.
Those numbers reflected a productive offense, although Tampa Bay had also allowed more scoring opportunities than it would have liked.
The Lightning needed a stronger defensive performance against Florida, particularly given the Panthers' offensive depth.
Kucherov remained one of Tampa Bay's most dangerous offensive players.
His vision, passing ability, and effectiveness on the power play made him a constant threat.
Against Toronto, he recorded eight points in seven games and played an important role in creating scoring chances for his teammates.
Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Palat provided additional offensive support.
The Lightning also had experienced depth players capable of contributing in important moments.
Nick Paul demonstrated that value in Game 7 against Toronto, scoring both Tampa Bay goals in the 2-1 victory.
His performance helped the Lightning survive one of the toughest challenges of their postseason run.
Vasilevskiy was central to Tampa Bay's championship success.
The Lightning goaltender had established himself as one of the NHL's most reliable postseason performers.
His Game 7 performance against Toronto reinforced that reputation.
Vasilevskiy stopped 30 of 31 shots, helping Tampa Bay protect a narrow lead and secure the series victory.
Florida presented a different offensive challenge, but Vasilevskiy's ability to perform in high-pressure situations gave Tampa Bay a significant advantage.
If he could limit rebounds and withstand the Panthers' offensive pressure, the Lightning would have a strong chance of remaining competitive.
Florida entered the second round after defeating Washington in six games.
The Panthers had been the NHL's most productive offensive team during the regular season, but the opening playoff series was more difficult than expected.
Washington pushed Florida in several close contests, forcing the Panthers to rely on late goals and strong performances from their top forwards.
Through six playoff games, Florida was averaging 3.33 goals while allowing 3.17.
Carter Verhaeghe led the team with 12 points, including six goals and six assists.
His performance was one of the main reasons Florida advanced.
Verhaeghe was outstanding against Washington.
He scored six goals in six games, including several important goals in close situations.
His speed, finishing ability, and willingness to attack the net made him one of Florida's most dangerous players.
The Panthers also had considerable offensive depth.
Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Reinhart, and Anthony Duclair were capable of producing scoring chances throughout the lineup.
Florida's offensive strength made it difficult for opponents to focus on a single line.
However, the Panthers needed more consistent special-teams production against Tampa Bay.
Their power play had struggled throughout the Washington series, an issue that could become especially important against the defending champions.
Sergei Bobrovsky entered the second round following a strong performance in Florida's series-clinching victory over Washington.
The Panthers defeated the Capitals 4-3 in overtime in Game 6.
Bobrovsky made 34 saves on 37 shots, keeping Florida in contention during a competitive game.
His experience and ability to handle heavy workloads were important to the Panthers.
Against Tampa Bay, Bobrovsky faced a team with several dangerous shooters and an effective power play.
Florida needed its goaltender to match Vasilevskiy's performance, particularly if the series featured the same close games seen during the opening round.
The original ATS.io preview highlighted the following betting trends entering Game 1.
Tampa Bay's recent games had featured plenty of offense.
The Lightning were scoring more than three goals per game during the playoffs, but they had also allowed 3.43 goals per contest against Toronto.
That combination made the total an interesting market.
Their strong recent road performance against the puck line also suggested they were capable of remaining competitive away from home.
Florida's home record was one of the strongest arguments supporting the Panthers entering Game 1.
The team had been extremely difficult to beat in Sunrise throughout the season.
Florida also entered with momentum after winning its first playoff series since 1996.
The Panthers had enough offensive talent to challenge Tampa Bay's defense, particularly if they could establish an early lead.
Florida's regular-season scoring numbers were exceptional.
The Panthers had finished with 337 goals, more than any other NHL team.
Their forward depth made them dangerous at even strength, and their ability to score in bunches had helped them overcome deficits throughout the season.
However, Tampa Bay was more experienced in playoff hockey.
The Lightning had repeatedly demonstrated an ability to tighten their defensive structure during important games.
Vasilevskiy's performance against Toronto suggested he was capable of frustrating even the league's most talented offenses.
Florida needed to create traffic in front of the net and capitalize on second-chance opportunities.
Tampa Bay had dangerous power-play options, particularly Kucherov, Stamkos, and Hedman.
Florida's power play, meanwhile, had struggled during the opening round.
The Panthers failed to score on 18 power-play opportunities against Washington.
That was a concern entering a matchup against a team with Tampa Bay's postseason experience.
If Florida continued struggling with the man advantage, it would place additional pressure on its even-strength offense.
Discipline was also important.
Giving Tampa Bay repeated power-play opportunities could quickly change the direction of the game.
Vasilevskiy and Bobrovsky were two established NHL goaltenders with extensive playoff experience.
Both entered the series following strong performances in their respective Game 7 and Game 6 victories.
Vasilevskiy stopped 30 of 31 shots against Toronto.
Bobrovsky made 34 saves against Washington.
The matchup could come down to which goaltender handled pressure more effectively.
With both teams capable of generating scoring chances, limiting rebounds and making difficult saves at important moments would be essential.
Updated October 28, 2026
.webp%3F2026-10-27T15%253A43%253A43.749Z&w=3840&q=75&dpl=9e6c5fc6c216ce81650e1c5fe7cbc2138973f1c2)
