Tampa Bay vs Florida Prediction 24 September 2026
🔊 The Florida derby is set to showcase a clear difference in lineup strategies. Tampa are expected to field most of their star players, including Kucherov, Point, Guentzel, and Hedman, while the Panthers will rely largely on young prospects and players battling for roster spots. Both teams have already played two preseason games: the Lightning split wins with Nashville, while Florida picked up three points from their pair of matchups against Carolina. As a result, the outcome here is just as intriguing as the opportunity to see Florida’s emerging talent tested against Tampa’s experienced core.
Head-to-Head
📊 Last season, these rivals faced off seven times, including three preseason clashes. Tampa came out on top in five of those meetings, while Florida claimed victory twice. The last three encounters were particularly high-scoring affairs, with at least six goals netted in each game. The average total across all seven matchups was also impressive, coming in at 6.1 goals per game.
Head-to-head statistics Tampa Bay - Florida
Tampa Bay Lightning Team Overview
The Lightning kicked off their preseason with a 2-1 win over Nashville, as newcomer Ilya Mikheyev found the net just 93 seconds in, capitalizing on a setup from another summer addition, John Carlson. Carlson logged a team-high 21:56 of ice time for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy played the full game, stopping 12 of 13 shots, while the Lightning’s penalty kill shut down all six of Nashville’s power play opportunities. In the second meeting, Nashville responded with a 3-2 overtime victory, with both Tampa Bay goals coming from Jeffrey Viel. Up next against Florida, the Lightning are set to feature key players such as Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, Victor Hedman, and other regulars.
Match Results: Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers Team Overview
After their 6-3 win over Carolina, the Panthers fell to the same opponent in a shootout (2-3) in the second meeting, with Brady Tkachuk already tallying 5 points (3+2) in just two games. However, most of the veterans are set to sit out against Tampa Bay due to preseason appearance limits, so Paul Maurice is turning to the younger players and roster hopefuls. Cole Reinhardt has already scored twice this preseason, while Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway are set to make their debuts for Florida. Cooper Black, who finished last season in the AHL with a 25-13-4 record and a .903 save percentage, will get the start in net, with Kirill Gerasimyuk also expected to see some ice time.
Match Results: Florida Panthers
⭐️ Editor’s Prediction
On paper, Tampa have the edge going into this matchup, but the +1.5 handicap gives Florida some breathing room even in defeat. The Panthers have already played twice this preseason and avoided regulation losses both times: first beating Carolina, then taking them to a shootout. The broader trend also backs this pick-Florida have covered the +1.5 spread in six of their last seven preseason outings. Even with an experimental lineup, that cushion looks significant here. My pick: Florida Panthers +1.5 handicap.
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Betting Tips: Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Panthers
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