Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers Best Bet: Can Anton Lundell, Panthers Step Up in Game 5?

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers Best Bet: Can Anton Lundell, Panthers Step Up in Game 5?

The Florida Panthers travel back to Vegas to try and keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive in an elimination game tonight. The Panthers appeared to be back in the series after winning Game 3, making the series 2-1, but the Vegas Golden Knights quickly thwarted the hope for Panthers fans with a dagger in Game 4, winning 3-2 and forcing a situation where Florida will have to win three games in a row to lift the cup. Can they do it?

Golden Knights vs. Panthers Game 5 Start Time and Where to Watch

• Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2023
• Game Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: TNT

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Flordia Panthers Game 5 Prediction

Oddly enough, the Panthers have been in this spot very recently. In the first round, the Panthers were down 1-3 against the President's trophy winners, the Boston Bruins, who set the record for most points in an NHL regular season. The Panthers fought back on the road in Game 5, winning 4-3 in overtime, and finished the comeback, winning Game 7 in overtime.

The Panthers displayed their ability to remain composed in an elimination situation then, and they can surely do it again, given how good they have looked in the postseason. Still, they will need their key players to step up, and Matthew Tkachuk on the injury report does not help matters.

Matthew Tkachuk was banged up in Game 4 and is now listed as "day-to-day" ahead of tonight's game after not practicing Monday. Obviously, missing Tkachuk would be a huge blow to the Panthers, as he leads the team by far with 24 postseason points. Even if he does play, it does not sound like he is 100%, and he may have limited time on ice. Nick Cousins is also banged up and may not play in Game 5. Given that, the other Panthers will have to step up, and I love Anton Lundell to fire on the net tonight.

Lundell has not lit up the box score in the postseason, logging 10 points in 20 games, but he has sneaky good value in Game 5. Lundell is a young player who had a quiet regular season, only racking up 33 points in 73 games in the regular season. He was also quiet at the beginning of the postseason, but he has been crucial in this series.

He has three points, a goal, and two assists, in the Stanley Cup Finals, which ties him with Brandon Montour and Matthew Tkachuk for the most points in this series on the team. As a result of his improving play, Lundell has played more time and has gotten more shots on goal. He had four shots on goal in Game 1, three in Game 2, just one in Game 3, and three in Game 4. His line tonight is 1.5 shots on goal with -160 juice on DraftKings.

With Florida's backs against the wall and a few key injuries to their forward group, I expect Lundell to get a lot of time on the ice and for him to continue to be a factor tonight, as he has been all series. He is picking up momentum and confidence, and with Tkachuk banged up, Lundell may also be moved to the first power play unit. Lundell is a listed center, but he can play anywhere, and that flexibility is what Florida needs in Game 5 with injuries at hand. I like Lundell to have a big game tonight.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Flordia Panthers Game 5 Best Bet

Pick: Anton Lundell Over 1.5 Shots on Goal -160 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick

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