The Florida Panthers (29-24-3 SU, 21-35 ATS) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4 SU, 28-26 ATS) at Benchmark International Arena in a classic Battle of Florida matchup. The Lightning enter as slight -182 home favorites at FanDuel, with the total set at 6.5 goals. Each on opposite sides of the Atlantic Division standings, The Panthers defense has been bleeding goals while the Lightning’s offense is overflowing the back of the net. 

florida panthers vs. tampa bay lightning Odds

Matchup Page: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Feb. 5, 7:30 pm ET

Panthers vs. lightning OddsTeamSpreadMoneylineTotalFlorida Panthers+1.5 (-164)+150OVER 6.5 (+112)Tampa Bay Lightning-1.5 (+134)-182UNDER 6.5 (-138)

Odds as of February 5th, 2026 at FanDuel

florida panthers vs. tampa bay lightning Pick

Florida can put the puck in the net, but it hasn’t necessarily translated into wins for them. The Panthers are averaging 3.09 goals per game, just below league-average (3.12) with Sam Reinhart (27 G, 28 A), Brad Marchand (25 G, 25 A) Sam Bennett (19 G, 23 A) carrying most of the load. But that’s been overshadowed by problems in their own zone.

Defensively, Florida has been struggling, giving up 3.29 goals per game (bottom-10) and 20 goals over the last five outings. Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t had much help and has also struggled lately, recording a .872SV% and 3.13 GAA, and also allowing 4+ goals in three of his last four starts.

Tampa Bay comes in playing confident. The Lightning are scoring 3.57 goals per game (ranked second) and have lit the lamp 14 times in their last three games. Nikita Kucherov continues to drive everything offensively, pocketing.a whopping 16 poitns in his last five games, tallying him up to 90 points this season. Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel right there with him, each eclipsing 50-points, while Darren Raddysh’s 34 assists has been a steady threat from the point. On top of the scoring, Tampa’s defense has been sharp, holding opponents to just 2.57 goals per game, second-best in the NHL. Obviously, Andrei Vasilevskiy looks dialed in again, giving up just 10 goals over his last five outings and recording a .918SV% this year.

With Tampa riding a nine-game streak at home and Florida still searching for answers defensively, the Lightning hold the edge in tonight’s Battle of Florida.

Panthers vs. Lightning Pick: Tampa Bay ML (-182)

*Pick made February 4th

florida panthers vs. tampa bay lightning Prop Bet

Nikita Kucherov OVER 1.5 Assists (+122)

Like I said above, Nikita Kucherov is on fire, riding a nine-game point streak that features 23 total points. In that streak, 17 of those 23 points were assists, accomplishing 2+ assists in five of those nine games. Kucherov has gone OVER 1.5 assists in five of his last six home games, averaging 2.3 assists per game in that span. 

florida panthers vs. tampa bay lightning Betting TrendsAccording to our NCAAF database, the Lightning are 5-3 SU in their last eight games vs. the PanthersThe Lightning are 16-2 SU (88.9%) in their last 18 games as a favoritePer Outlier, the Lightning are 9-20 ATS (31.0%) in their last 29 games at homeThe OVER hit in eight of the Panthers last 10 games as an underdog