The battle in Florida has become awkward.
The Panthers won the same scoreline in Game 2 on Thursday to take a 2-0 series lead, but the main storyline for that contest was the injury to Alexander Barkov.
The Florida captain was clocked away from the pack by Brandon Hagel in Tampa Bay, leading to speculation that the Panthers may not have Barkov after Game 3.
Paul Maurice was his mother about Barkov’s position after Game 2, so it’s unlikely we’re going to have a solid idea of whether the Talismanic Finn will be in the lineup on Saturday afternoons.
Nevertheless, the cat is a favorite of -138 to win game 3.
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Lightning vs. Panthers Game 3 Bet Preview
The way the first two games of this top 7 series were played caught everyone completely off guard.
It’s not a shock that Florida is playing well. After all, they are defending champions – but what’s surprising is how lightning looks through 120 minutes of play.
Tampa Bay has a great shape for stretching, reinforcing depth at deadlines, leading many fans, bettors and critics to declare bolts beat at the Eastern Conference.
The hype machine was completely cooled after two disappointing losses to rivals in the state.
Lightning vs Panthers Game 3 Picks
Florida Battle Game 3 presents classic handicap questions.
Is the market overreacting to small sample sizes? Or did the hockey world overestimate the chance to send out the defending champions from this top 7 series?
The position of Barkov is uncertain, and I will lean towards the former, put my trust in the lightning bolt, and find their shape to Nick of Time.
Play: Lightning (+115, Bet365)
Why trust New York Post Beds?
Michael Lubov is a patient and abundant islander fan, but is a long-time for-profit sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters acquire a pool of brackets, find long shots, and learn how to win the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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