The first-round series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning continues on Thursday. Tampa Bay is currently trailing their in-state rivals by one game. Florida won the Stanley Cup last year and aims to take a dominant 2-0 series lead back to their home ice for Game 3. Tampa Bay has been a top team recently, securing two Stanley Cups and reaching three finals since 2020. This season, the Lightning had a strong 29-8-4 record at home, contrasting with the Panthers` 20-19-2 road record.
According to SportsLine consensus odds, the Lightning are favored on the money line at -126 (meaning a $126 bet wins $100), while the Panthers are underdogs at +106. The total goals line (over/under) is set at 5.5.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates each NHL game 10,000 times to provide top-rated prop picks, which are available under the `Prop Picks` tab. Player prop bets are assigned ratings up to five stars. These predictions can help build successful parlays on various platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, Sleeper Fantasy, and other betting sites offering same-game parlays.
Panthers-Lightning Same-Game Parlay (+471 Odds)
- Nikita Kucherov Under 1.5 total points (-156): 5 stars
- Brad Marchand Over 1.5 total shots on goal (-168): 4.5 stars
- Carter Verhaeghe Over 2.5 total shots on goal (+118): 4.5 stars
This series features significant star talent, and Kucherov is arguably the most prominent player. He has topped the NHL in points for two seasons in a row, accumulating 121 points this year, including 84 assists. Despite getting an assist in Game 1`s loss, the model favors the Under for his 1.5 total points prop, giving it a 5-star rating. Kucherov has finished below his total points line in his last five matchups against teams with winning records.
Marchand, who spent many years with the Boston Bruins, now plays for Florida. This season, he`s averaging 2.73 shots on goal per game. The model predicts he will exceed his 1.5 shots on goal line for Thursday`s game, projecting 2.4 shots. Marchand has hit the Over on his shots on goal prop in four of his last six games facing teams with winning records.
Completing Thursday`s same-game parlay selection is Verhaeghe. The model also favors the Over for his shots on goal prop, set at 2.5, noting its favorable plus-money odds. Verhaeghe has surpassed his shots on goal prop in six of his last 10 outings, averaging 3.0 shots per game. The model forecasts him to achieve 2.9 shots on goal on Thursday.
