Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Game 3 Prediction – 4/26/2025

As the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are set for a pivotal Game 3 today, Saturday, April 26, at 1:00 PM ET. The Panthers currently lead the series 2-0 after securing victories in the first two games. With the series shifting to Tampa Bay's home ice, the Lightning aim to leverage their home advantage to stay in contention.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 3 Preview

Florida has demonstrated strong performance in the initial games, winning Game 1 with a 6-2 score and a 2-0 victory in Game 2. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been instrumental, allowing just two goals across both games and maintaining a .906 save percentage during the regular season. Here, the Panthers return home and will look to build on the momentum generated in their two road wins to start the series.

On the other side, Tampa Bay's offense, led by Nikita Kucherov, has struggled to find momentum. Kucherov, who tallied 121 points in the regular season, has been limited to one in the series, and no goals. The Lightning's power play conversion has not been good enough so far in this series. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed eight goals in two games, and aims to bolster his performance on the road.

Betting Insights

• Moneyline: Lightning +115, Panthers -135
• Puck Line: Lightning +1.5 (-235), Panthers -1.5 (+180)
• Over/Under: 5.5 (Over -115, Under -105)

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 3 Prediction

Considering the Panthers' current form and the Lightning's offensive struggles, Florida appears poised to extend their series lead. Bobrovsky's consistent goaltending and the Panthers' defensive structure have effectively neutralized Tampa Bay's attack. Unless the Lightning can significantly improve their even-strength play and capitalize on power-play opportunities, Florida is likely to secure another victory.

Prediction: Florida Panthers 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2

Best Bet: Panthers Moneyline (-135); Under 5.5 Goals (-105)

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