NHL Stanley Cup Finals betting tips: Florida Panthers looking for some retribution on home ice
- George Dempsey
- 8 June 2023
Florida Panthers start a two-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights with game three of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Game three of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals will take place at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, with the hosts looking to win their first game of the series.
NHL Stanley Cup Finals picks
Golden Knights @ Panthers - Game Three verdict
The Golden Knights recorded a convincing 7-2 victory over the Florida Panthers in game three, dominating the visitors to lead 4-0 by the end of the second period.
Florida Panthers are favourites to win game three with Planet Sport Bet.
Florida have shown us that you write them off at your peril. They looked down and out against the team with the best record in NHL, Boston Bruins.
Not only did they turn around a 3-1 deficit by winning three straight games, but they also went on to win eight of the next nine to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
Game one against the Knights saw the teams tied at 2-2 after the second period. Their lack of discipline plus Vegas' depth took hold in the third.
Momentum was really with the hosts in game two, who wasted no time in racing into a 2-0 lead during the first period. They'd extend that lead to 4-0 by the end of the second.
There's a case to be made for Florida now they're back at home, but it may not be as simple as backing the team who needs it more.
This game is more likely to go under the posted total than the games in Vegas. We expected a better defensive effort on home ice, and it's time for Sergei Bobrovsky to turn up.
At the other end, Adin Hill saved 29 of 31 shots in game two for a 93.5% save percentage to add to his 94.3% save percentage in game one, where he saved 33 of 35 shots.
Conversely, the Panther's goaltender Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 13 shots at one stage in the game. He was pulled and Alex Lyon was sent on in his place.
Offensively, game two was never a contest and it felt like everyone got in on the act. Jonathan Marchessault, Jack Eichel and Michael Amadio were among the 12 players to score or assist on the night.
The Panthers have to do a considerably better job of closing passing lanes and preventing clear looks at the goal. Then they need to find a way to get their offence going.
Matthew Tkachuk is key to that but he's costing his side a lot of penalty minutes and may need to reign in the physicality. That's a facet of his game, but they need his offence right now.
Carter Verheaghe and Aleksander Barkov were two of Florida's top three-point scorers during the regular season, yet haven't a single point between them in games one and two.
The Knights have been near perfect and that can never last. The Panthers have so much room for growth and it does stand to reason that game three will be a contest.
