Dec. 15, 2025, 9:45 a.m. ET

The Florida Panthers (16-13-2) visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (18-11-3) in an Atlantic Division battle Monday in Tampa, Florida. The opening puck drop from Benchmark International Arena will be at 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Panthers vs. Lightning odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Lightning lead 1-0

Florida last played Saturday when it defeated the -128 Dallas Stars 4-0 (Under 5.5). Monday’s contest is closing out a 4-game road trip that has thus far seen the Panthers go 2-1-0.

Tampa Bay is back at home after going 2-1-1 on its own 4-game road swing from Dec. 8-13. The Lightning concluded that trip Saturday when they lost a 3-2 (Under 6) shootout to the +114 New York Islanders.

Watch the NHL on Fubo!Panthers at Lightning odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Panthers +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Lightning -140 (bet $140 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-210) | Lightning -1.5 (+170)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)Panthers at Lightning projected goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky (13-8-1, 2.84 GAA, .886 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Jonas Johansson (7-5-1, 2.59 GAA, .904 SV%)

Bobrovsky clocked a 15-save shutout in Saturday’s win over Dallas. The veteran logged a shaky November with an .864 SV% in 9 games. Save for a 6-goal clunker 34 starts back, he has played better this month.

Johansson stopped 15-of-17 in Saturday’s shootout loss. He has posted a .916 SV% in starting each of the club’s last 6 games.

Panthers at Lightning picks and predictionsPrediction

Panthers 4, Lightning 3

The Panthers are 4-1 over their last 5 road games. Florida is 2-1 across the last 3 series meetings and has won the last 3 games held in Tampa. The Lightning are 2-4-1 since Dec. 2.

Florida’s defense and goaltending have certainly not been what they were a year ago, when the club ranked seventh in the league by allowing just 2.72 goals per game. Overall this season, the Panthers have yielded 3.16 goals per game, and they have endured stretches of shaky play at the blue line and between the pipes. However, Bobrovsky has been mostly sharp of late — and notched a .930 SV% against the Bolts last season — and at 5-on-5, Florida’s expected-goals numbers look better than what’s showing in the box scores.

Tampa has had 3 other multi-game trips this season, and they went 1-2 in the return-to-home-ice games following those. A top-end Lightning penalty kill has fallen off in recent games. The Bolts have been touched up for 6 power-play goals in their last 20 kill attempts.

Consider a partial-unit play on FLORIDA (+115).

No interest; PASS.

The Over has cashed in 3 of the last 4 series meetings.

Each side has filed multiple games with 3-plus even-strength goals in their last 3. Since mid-November, the Panthers have scored 4-plus 6 times and the Bolts 7 times. And Tampa Bay has some built-in fade-the-defense tilt in its 5-on-5 expected-goal numbers. Looking at puck-possession and shot-quality numbers, the Lightning have been somewhat fortunate in the goals-allowed category.

The OVER 6 (-110) is the value play on the this one.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.

Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose.  While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.  We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site.  Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.