The Sunshine State series is being conducted in close quarters, with plenty of tight checking and not much room for the respective snipers to operate. Defense has been the name of the game as each of the first two games landed 3-2 in Florida's favor, and both goalies (Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy) looking sharp beat. If there might be an edge with the series shifted to Tampa, it's the absence of Panthers forward and catalyst Sam Bennett, out at least a week with what appeared a wrist injury suffered in Game 2. In a series of such tight margins, the absence of a key cog like Bennett looms large, and the Lightning will play with real urgency tonight. Play Lightning on Money Line

I said before this series began that this had all the makings of a six or seven-game showdown, and I stand by that read. Game 2 went to OT, and Game 1 was also a one goal win for Florida. There's few things I like more than backing a team coming home down 2-0 in a series, especially when that team is as talented as the Tampa Bay Lightning. Grab Tampa to win and make this a series.

The Tampa Bay Lightning return home after two one-goal losses while getting out-shot in both games. The Panthers are now 4-1 vs. Tampa Bay this season. I have to believe that the Lightning will play one of their best games, knowing they can’t go down 3-0 and expect to win the series. Tampa Bay has a championship pedigree, and it should be on full display at Amalie Arena.

We aren't going to get totals of 6.5s often in the playoffs; the first two games of this series both ended 3-2 in favor of Florida. The Panthers also did lose a top-six forward to injury in Game 2 in Sam Bennett (20G, 21A in regular season). He's out at least a week. Personally think the only way this loses Thursday is if we get the dreaded 3-3 regulation tie.