With the All-Star Break in the rearview mirror, the Tampa Bay Lightning (32-15-1) will head down to Sunrise to face off with the Florida Panthers (24-22-6) in their first game of February. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET with Tampa Bay picked as a slight favorite at -120 on the money line and an over/under at 6.5, courtesy of FanDuel.
This will be the third matchup between these two teams so far this season, with Tampa Bay collecting two wins in their previous meetings. Brayden Point scored an overtime goal for a 3-2 win back on October 21st in South Florida, but the Bolts put up a dominant performance on December 10th in a 4-1 home win. Andrei Vasilevskiy was brilliant in both games, and this will be another opportunity for him to face off against a squad he seems comfortable against so far this season. Vasy, along with Nikita Kucherov, was selected as an All-Star this year and represented the Tampa Bay Lightning this past weekend in Sunrise.
Adding #NHLAllStar Champions to the ole resume 📝 pic.twitter.com/qhfYl4uwT8
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 5, 2023
The Lightning ended January on a three-game heater, including their most recent game resulting in a 5-2 win at home against the Kings. It was their 12th straight home win as five different Bolts ended up with goals on the night. The Panthers, on the other hand, have been on a rocky road coming into the break, going 5-5 in their last 10. Florida was able to grab an OT victory on January 28th against the league-leading Boston Bruins however, allowing them to go into the All-Star break on a high note.
Tampa Bay currently holds the third spot in the Atlantic division with 65 points, only behind the Maple Leafs & Bruins. Florida sits in fifth in the Atlantic with 54 points, hoping to try and make up some ground in the late-season playoff push.
INJURIES: No injuries for Tampa Bay.
Panthers wingers Anthony Duclair and Patric Hörnqvist along with G Sergei Bobrovsky remain on IR. G Spencer Knight is considered day-to-day.
Odds (Courtesy of FanDuel): TBL -120 ML/FLA +100 ML, O 6.5 -134/U 6.5 +110
Where to watch: Bally Sports Sun, NHL PowerPlay, ESPN+
Where to listen: Lightning Radio 24/7, 102.5 MHz-FM
FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
February 6, 2023, 7:00 p.m. ET