Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Game 3 Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/22/2022

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL

Where to watch: TNT

DraftKings: Even

BetMGM: Panthers -115, Lightning -105

Caesars: Panthers -115, Lightning -105

Uh ... so, the Florida Panthers. Their soul might be gone. It might have been ripped out by Ross Colton, spit on and then trampled on the ice at FLA Live Arena.

Colton scored with 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Tampa Bay Lightning won Game 2 by a 2-1 final and took a 2-0 series lead over the Presidents' Trophy-winning Panthers. And just like that, the series shifts back to Amalie Arena for Game 3 and the Lightning have all the momentum. And honestly, why would we think any different?

Just the last play itself was a sign that the Lightning know when to capitalize on those clutch situations, while the Panthers are feeling all the pressure in the world right now.

Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov retrieved the puck behind the net, drawing both Panthers defensemen toward him. Mackenzie Weegar's decision to play Kucherov left Colton all alone in front of the net, and last year's Stanley Cup-clinching goal scorer roofed it over Sergei Bobrovsky's right shoulder for the game-winner.

"When you're on the ice with 'Kuch,' you've got to be ready for anything, and once I saw the puck behind the net, I just went to the front of the net," Colton said. "He's got eyes in the back of his head, as you can see, because I didn't even know that he knew I was there. He gift-wrapped it for me. Luckily it just squeaked under the bar there, but unbelievable play by him."

The Panthers did everything right tightening up in the defensive end for 59:56. They cleaned up the penalties after Game 1, played better in front of Bobrovsky, and yet still found a way to lose the game.

What's more wild is that this series is very capable of ending by Sunday. The Lightning will host Game 4 on Monday, so if Tampa finds a way to win Game 3, the Panthers' season is very likely coming to an end.

"We're two games closer to where we want to be but we're not there yet," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "I told you this last time in the last series and I'm going to tell you again: Tonight was just one game. We're here to win a series."

And quite honestly, no one wants to go to Amalie Arena down 2-0. That crowd is likely to be raucous beyond belief, especially knowing that crowd saw their team rally from down 3-2 to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs.

More importantly, they're close to getting back to the Eastern Conference Final and if you're still not in the mindset of them 3-peating, you may need to start thinking that way. Especially if this dynamic Florida team goes 0-for-4 on the power play again, then we need to have that discussion. The Panthers are 0-for-7 this series on the man advantage.

"Obviously, it's really hard," Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. "It's not easy. It's one of those things that hurts, obviously, but it's a roller-coaster ride that we're in and the sun will come up, wake up and keep playing like we're playing. I really liked our game. I liked most of our game Game 1 (a 4-1 loss). Just a learning experience again against a team that doesn't give you too many openings, and we kind of gave away one there."

This team has too much talent to be folding in the playoffs at this time. The Battle of Florida has gone completely one-sided, and the big-time players on the Panthers have been quiet. Sasha Barkov has no points through two games; Sam Reinhart has gone three games without a point. Those are two names that have to get going.

If not, this series might be over next week. That's just absurd to think.

I'm sort of surprised that the lines are as close as they are opening with the series moving to Tampa, and part of me wants to think the Panthers will find a way to respond and win Game 3, but the Lightning have all the momentum right now and I can't trust the Panthers right now. No matter how they play, Tampa always has a response. This one will be no different. Lightning win 4-3

Panthers are 32-13 following a home game this season.

Panthers are 7-12 since 1996 when trailing in a playoff series.

Lightning are 90-34 the past three seasons after an under.

Lightning are 33-8 in the second round of the playoffs since 1996.

Anthony Duclair -- Aleksander Barkov -- Claude Giroux

Jonathan Huberdeau -- Sam Bennett -- Sam Reinhart

Mason Marchment -- Anton Lundell -- Noel Acciari

Ryan Lomberg -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Patric Hornqvist

Ben Chiarot -- Aaron Ekblad

Gustav Forsling -- MacKenzie Weegar

Brandon Montour -- Radko Gudas

Sergei Bobrovsky

Lightning:

Ondrej Palat -- Steven Stamkos -- Nikita Kucherov

Alex Killorn -- Anthony Cirelli -- Brandon Hagel

Nicholas Paul -- Brayden Point -- Ross Colton

Pat Maroon -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Corey Perry

Victor Hedman -- Erik Cernak

Ryan McDonagh -- Cal Foote

Mikhail Sergachev -- Zach Bogosian

Andrei Vasilevskiy