Tampa Bay (1-2) at Florida (2-1)
- When: Apr 28 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL, USA
- TV: ESPN
Lightning vs. Panthers Game 4 Betting Preview, Prediction & Breakdown
Moneyline: Florida -142 | Total: 5.5
Tampa Bay Lightning Outlook
The Lightning stormed back into this series with a statement 5-1 win on Saturday, proving they’re far from finished. Tampa Bay had lost seven of their previous eight playoff games, but Saturday’s explosive second half finally gave them a spark — and more importantly, a jolt of confidence.
Nick Paul’s go-ahead goal midway through the second period opened the floodgates, and from there, Tampa took full control. Nikita Kucherov dished out three assists, pushing his career playoff totals into elite company, and Jake Guentzel added a goal and two assists, showing the Lightning’s stars are heating up at the right time.
Although Tampa has yet to win back-to-back games this postseason, their offense looks rejuvenated, and if they can strike first and control the pace again, they have serious upset potential in Game 4.
Florida Panthers Outlook
Florida still holds the upper hand with a 2-1 series lead, and there’s no panic from the reigning champs. Captain Aleksander Barkov emphasized learning from Saturday’s slip and refocusing quickly.
The Panthers dominated early in Game 3 but fell apart in the final two periods, something coach Paul Maurice acknowledged needs to be corrected. Even though Florida scored just once — a Matthew Tkachuk goal — the underlying metrics showed more offensive zone pressure than in either of the first two games.
With weapons like Sam Reinhart, Barkov, Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe, Florida’s offense is capable of exploding at any moment. Playing back at home in a critical spot, the Panthers are primed for a much sharper performance and will look to reassert control with a fast start and stronger puck movement.
Prediction
The Lightning have life, but Florida remains the better, deeper team. Expect the Panthers to respond with more urgency, dictate the pace early, and ultimately pull away late to secure the Game 4 win.
Pick: Panthers ML (-142)
Prediction: Florida 4, Tampa Bay 2
Lean: Over 5.5 (-110) – With both offenses showing signs of breaking out, expect more goals in what should be another physical, high-tempo battle.
- NHL Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
