The Florida Panthers face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Sunshine State rivalry clash, with the Panthers looking to build on a recent shootout win over Boston while snapping a four-game skid prior to that. Tampa Bay, riding a nine-game home winning streak and boasting the league’s second-best record, enters as heavy favorites despite key injuries in their forward lines. This Atlantic Division matchup at Benchmark International Arena could hinge on special teams, where the Lightning’s power play (24.8%, fifth in NHL) tests Florida’s penalty kill (80.2%, 18th), and Tampa’s elite goaltending faces a Panthers offense averaging 3.12 GPG (14th). Expect a high-intensity game with playoff implications, as Florida fights for a wild-card spot while Tampa aims to solidify their top seeding before the Olympic break.
Venue Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT). TV: ESPN+, Hulu.
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with significant absences, particularly in their forward groups, which could limit scoring depth. Florida played without several key players in their recent win over Boston, while Tampa Bay’s injuries have forced lineup adjustments, including replacing Anthony Cirelli on Team Canada for the Olympics.
Florida Panthers:
Out: Aleksander Barkov Jr. (Knee), Seth Jones (Upper Body – LTIR), Jonah Gadjovich (Upper Body), Dmitry Kulikov (Upper Body), Tomas Nosek (Knee), Sandis Vilmanis (Upper Body – left recent game).
Questionable/Day-to-Day: Brad Marchand (Undisclosed – DTD, missed recent games but possible return).
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Out: Brayden Point (Lower Body – LTIR), Anthony Cirelli (Upper Body – Out for Olympics), Nicholas Paul (Undisclosed), Charle-Edouard D’Astous (Lower Body), Emil Martinsen Lilleberg (Undisclosed).
Key Player Matchups
Injuries disrupt both lineups, forcing secondary players into prominent roles. Projected starters: Panthers – Lundell centering Reinhart and Verhaeghe; Lightning – Kucherov with Stamkos and Hagel. Goaltending: Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA, .902 SV%) vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL, .912 SV%).
Sam Reinhart (FLA, RW) vs. Nikita Kucherov (TBL, RW): Reinhart (top-line sniper, recent multi-point games) exploits gaps; Kucherov (league-leading assists) thrives on power plays—key in transition battles.
Anton Lundell (FLA, C) vs. Steven Stamkos (TBL, C): Lundell (stepping up with Barkov out, recent GWG) provides two-way play; Stamkos (veteran scorer, 20+ goals) dominates faceoffs and special teams.
Matthew Tkachuk (FLA, LW) vs. Victor Hedman (TBL, D): Tkachuk (agitating forward, physical edge) tests Hedman’s shutdown ability (top-pair D, blocks leader).
Other Notes: Brandon Hagel (TBL) steps up without Point (averaging 3.6 SOG in absence); Carter Verhaeghe (FLA) vs. Hagel in secondary scoring matchup.
Recent Team Forms
Florida Panthers (4-6 in last 10 games): Averaging 3.0 GPG while allowing 3.4. They’ve snapped a four-game skid with a 5-4 SO win over Boston (Feb. 4), led by Marchand’s return (if played) and a three-goal second period. Prior losses included blowouts to weaker teams. Road form: 3-7 in last 10 away, but 2-1 in recent rivals.
Tampa Bay Lightning (8-2 in last 10 games): Averaging 4.1 GPG while allowing 2.5. They’ve won nine straight at home, including a 4-3 OT over Detroit and 4-3 SO over Seattle. Depth scoring has compensated for injuries. Home form: 9-0 in last nine at Benchmark, outscoring opponents 38-20.
Series History
The Panthers lead the all-time series 90-65-10-19 in regular season, with a 10-10 playoff split. Recent: Tampa Bay 4-6-0 in last 10 vs. Florida, but Panthers won the most recent 2-1 on March 3, 2025. Largest victory: Panthers 9-2 on Feb. 17, 2024. In Tampa, Florida is 40-43-6-4 all-time. Games average 6.2 GPG, with over in 5/10 recently; Panthers 5-5 ATS in last 10 head-to-head.
Betting Trends
Spread (ATS): Lightning 28-26 ATS overall, 20-8 at home; Panthers 29-27 ATS, 13-14 on road, 4-6 as +150 or longer underdogs.
Over/Under: Over has hit in 23 of Lightning’s 54 games (42.6%) and 33 of Panthers’ 56 (58.9%); combined recent games push 6.5+ in 56%.
Game Odds
Florida Panthers 6.5
Tampa Bay Lightning – 185
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 4, 2026
