Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers Picks and Predictions December 22nd 2024

Lightning and Panthers Set for Two-Game Rivalry Showdown

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers clash in a rare back-to-back series, starting Sunday in Tampa and continuing Monday in Sunrise.

Lightning’s Explosive Offense Leads the NHL

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the first matchup with the league’s top offense, averaging an NHL-best 4.00 goals per game. Tampa Bay has four players scoring over a point per game, led by Nikita Kucherov, who is riding a nine-game point streak with 49 points (1.75 points per game) in 28 games.

Brayden Point (41 points), Brandon Hagel (34 points), and Jake Guentzel (31 points) follow closely, with Anthony Cirelli also on pace for a career year with 28 points. Even Tampa Bay’s fourth line is contributing, with Luke Glendening opening the scoring in a 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this week.

“Do they score as much as the Point line? No,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “But the bench is always pumped when they do.”

The Lightning are riding a season-best four-game winning streak and hold a strong 10-4-1 record at home.

Panthers Look to Continue Strong Road Form

The Florida Panthers come into the series with momentum, having earned points in 10 of their last 12 games (9-2-1). They are also strong on the road with an 11-6-1 record.

Fiery winger Matthew Tkachuk has been in top form, recently earning NHL First Star of the Week honors with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 29 games.

Florida’s captain Aleksander Barkov delivered a signature performance in Friday’s 2-1 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues. After stripping the puck and creating a scoring opportunity, Barkov drew a penalty and then scored the game-winner with just 17 seconds remaining in the extra session.

“Great moment from a great player, especially for the week he had,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, referring to Barkov’s return from a two-game illness.

The Panthers’ defense has also stepped up, with Niko Mikkola enjoying a career-high four goals this season, and Aaron Ekblad tying Stephen Weiss for third in franchise history with his 249th assist.

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Recent Playoff and Season History

The Lightning and Panthers have been among the NHL’s elite over the past half-decade, with at least one of the two teams appearing in the last five Stanley Cup Finals. Tampa Bay made three consecutive appearances from 2020 to 2022, winning twice, while Florida represented the Eastern Conference in 2023 and 2024.

The teams last met in the playoffs during the first round in April, where the Panthers clinched the series in five games en route to their Finals run.

Key Matchups

Both teams returned from successful western road trips, with Florida going 3-2-0 and Tampa Bay posting a 3-1-0 record. The Lightning’s high-powered offense will face a challenge in Florida’s disciplined defense, while the Panthers will look to neutralize Tampa Bay’s potent power play.

In a back-to-back series, depth and endurance will play critical roles. Florida’s Niko Mikkola and Tampa Bay’s fourth line could be difference-makers in these tightly contested battles.