The NHL Playoffs rolled on with full force on Monday night, delivering drama, intensity, and a reminder that no lead is ever safe in the Stanley Cup chase. With late heroics in Florida and an early blitz in Dallas, Game 4 and Game 5 of the respective series between the Panthers and Lightning, and the Avalanche and Stars, offered two very different stories—both captivating in their own right.
Let’s break it down.
Panthers Storm Back in 11 Seconds of Madness
The Florida Panthers proved why they are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, delivering a gut-punching rally in front of a roaring Amerant Bank Arena to take a 3-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
For 55 minutes, the game teetered on a knife’s edge. Tampa Bay looked poised to level the series at 2-2, having fought back from an early deficit with goals from Mitchell Chaffee and Erik Cernak. Their physicality and sharpness had neutralised Florida’s threats for most of the third period.
Then came the collapse.
Aaron Ekblad tied the game at 2-2 at 16:13 of the third period, burying a rebound from Sam Reinhart’s shot. Just 11 seconds later, Seth Jones launched a seemingly routine shot from the point that deflected off Ryan McDonagh’s skate and squirmed under Andrei Vasilevskiy for a 3-2 lead. Carter Verhaeghe’s empty-netter at 18:20 sealed the 4-2 victory.
It was a stunning end to a match that had the makings of a Tampa Bay road statement. Instead, Florida’s composure and opportunism flipped the script entirely.
For bettors following our America Bet preview, the Panthers’ win came contrary to our match winner prediction, which had backed Tampa Bay to ride their Game 3 momentum to another win. However, our tips did identify over 5.5 goals as a strong play—and those late goals ensured it landed. Carter Verhaeghe, listed in our suggested goalscorer market, also delivered with a clutch goal.
Though the Lightning find themselves down 3-1, they’ve shown enough bite in this series to suggest Game 5 in Tampa could swing the pendulum yet again.
Stars Blitz Avalanche in Fast and Furious Game 5
Over in Dallas, the Stars sent a message loud and clear: don’t count them out.
Wyatt Johnston opened scoring a mere nine seconds into the game—a goal that tied for the fifth-fastest in Stanley Cup playoff history. It was a tone-setting moment, and the Avalanche never recovered.
The Stars added a second late in the first, with Thomas Harley’s shot bouncing off MacKenzie Blackwood and comically rolling over the line off his back. By the time Mikko Rantanen scored for the Avs early in the second, Dallas were already cruising with a 3-0 lead.
Despite some late fight from Colorado—including a Nathan MacKinnon goal—Dallas were never truly troubled. The 6-2 final score flattered no one but told the truth. The Stars were clinical, aggressive, and totally in control.
This match hit multiple betting marks from our America Bet preview. We had predicted a narrow Colorado win based on their Game 4 momentum—but this was a reminder that momentum in the playoffs can vanish in a heartbeat. Still, tips like Rantanen scoring and Dallas staying under 30 shots on goal (they finished with 26) hit the mark, providing silver linings for bettors.
Johnston, not widely tipped before puck drop, now becomes a man to watch in Game 6. His ability to rise to the moment with both goals and assists is emblematic of Dallas’ underrated depth.
Looking Ahead
Both the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars now hold 3-1 and 3-2 series leads, respectively. Yet these playoffs have already shown that no lead—be it in-game or in a series—is safe. For Tampa Bay and Colorado, the focus now turns to must-win hockey. One more defeat, and the curtain falls.
From a betting standpoint, Monday night’s action reinforced the value of considering prop bets, particularly around third-period performance, shots on goal, and goal scorers like Verhaeghe and Rantanen who regularly deliver under pressure.
America Bet continues to provide sharp, stat-backed insights throughout the playoffs. Whether you’re looking for predictions, betting angles, or just comprehensive NHL coverage, our previews and reviews are your go-to source.
With Game 5s and Game 6s looming, the path to the Stanley Cup is as unpredictable—and exciting—as ever.
