Panthers vs. Lightning NHL Prediction, Pick, Odds

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning meet in a key NHL matchup on February 5th.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 5:39am

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The Florida Panthers (28-24-3) and Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4) face off in an NHL game on Thursday, February 5th at 7:30 p.m. EST in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 goals. Tampa Bay is a heavy -220 favorite to win outright, while the Panthers are +180 underdogs.

Why it matters

This is an important matchup between two top teams in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL, while the Panthers are looking to solidify their playoff positioning. The outcome of this game could have significant implications for the postseason race.

The details

The Panthers are coming into this game on short rest, having played last night. Their offense has struggled this season, ranking in the bottom half of the league in goals per game. However, goaltender Daniil Tarasov has been solid, posting an 8-7-2 record with a .904 save percentage. The Lightning, led by superstar goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, have one of the best defensive teams in the NHL and have been involved in a lot of low-scoring games lately.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, February 5th at 7:30 p.m. EST.
  • This is the third game in four days for the Panthers.

The players

Daniil Tarasov

The Panthers' starting goaltender, who has put together a strong season with an 8-7-2 record, .904 save percentage, and 2.61 goals-against average.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Lightning's elite goaltender, who is 26-7-3 this season with a .918 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average.

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What they’re saying

“Tampa Bay's offense is the primary obstacle to the under, which explains why the total is set as high as six. That said, Tarasov has proven capable of limiting high-powered attacks.”

— Sports Betting Writer (actionnetwork.com)

What’s next

The outcome of this game will be closely watched as it could impact the playoff positioning of both teams in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

This matchup features two of the top teams in the NHL, with the high-powered Lightning offense facing off against the solid goaltending of the Panthers. The fatigue factor for the Panthers and the defensive prowess of the Lightning suggest this could be a low-scoring affair.