Panthers vs Utah Prediction, Odds & Harm Updates (Wednesday, Jan. 8)

• The Florida Panthers face the Utah Hockey Membership on Wednesday Evening Hockey
• We’ve made our Panthers vs Utah prediction for Wednesday, January 8, 2025
• Learn beneath for Panthers vs Utah prediction and odds for tonight’s recreation on TNT

The reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (24-15-2) head to Salt Lake Metropolis to battle the Utah Hockey Membership (17-15-7) on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM Jap Time at Delta Heart, with nationwide protection on TNT.

Florida enters as -150 street favorites, whereas the over/below is ready at 5.5 objectives. Can the upstart Utah squad pull off the upset as +130 dwelling underdogs? Let’s break down the matchup and make our Panthers vs Utah prediction.

Right here is our Panthers vs Utah prediction for Wednesday Evening Hockey.

Panthers vs Utah Prediction

I’m backing the Utah Hockey Membership to cowl +1.5 objectives (-215) and see worth on their moneyline at +130. The Panthers are the superior staff on paper as defending champs, however they’ve struggled lately, successful simply two of their final six video games. Florida’s offense has additionally dried up, scoring two objectives or much less in 5 of these contests.

In the meantime, Utah is in a 7-game homestand and enjoying impressed hockey. The Hockey Membership are simply 4 factors out of a playoff spot and have proved worthwhile in nationally televised video games, going 2-0 with wins over Chicago and Vancouver.

Large cats are on the town.

📍: Delta Heart
⏰: 8PM MT
📺: TNT
📻: KSL Sports activities Zone pic.twitter.com/lFbFlr24YK

— Utah Hockey Membership (@utahhockeyclub) January 8, 2025

The superior stats additionally favor Utah. At 5v5, they rank 4th within the NHL in anticipated objectives for proportion (xGF%) at 53.86%, indicating they persistently generate extra high-danger possibilities than opponents. Utah’s energy play is clicking at 22.2% (sixteenth) and can take a look at Florida’s mediocre penalty kill (81.5%, twelfth).

Utah is with out beginning goaltender Connor Ingram, however backup Karel Vejmelka has held his personal, posting a .914 save proportion in 9 begins. Ingram’s absence hasn’t been as detrimental as some feared, because of Vejmelka’s regular play.

Offensively, Utah’s prime line of Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther has been productive. Keller leads the staff with 39 factors, whereas Cooley and Guenther every have 34 factors.

Logan Cooley capitalizes on the facility play 🔥 pic.twitter.com/utDklphskB

— Utah Hockey Membership (@utahhockeyclub) December 9, 2024

One other issue is accidents, as Florida might be with out star defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola, who’re each game-time choices. Their absences can be a serious blow to the Panthers’ blue line. Utah has no important accidents to report.

I anticipate a decent, hard-fought battle with the youthful Utah squad using their dwelling crowd’s vitality to maintain issues shut. Again the Hockey Membership +1.5 at -215, with a smaller play on their +130 moneyline. The over 5.5 can also be value contemplating.

Wednesday Hockey Picks:

• Utah +1.5 (-215)
• Utah ML (+130)

Panthers vs Utah Odds

The Panthers are presently favored on the moneyline at -150, that means a $150 guess would return a revenue of $100 in the event that they win. Utah are +130 dwelling underdogs, providing a possible $130 revenue on a $100 wager.

Florida is -1.5 (+170) on the puck line, whereas Utah is +1.5 (-215). A Panthers puck line guess would require them to win by 2+ objectives, whereas a Utah puck line guess cashes in the event that they win outright or lose by a single tally.

The sport complete is 5.5 objectives, with the over at -125 and the below at +105. This means oddsmakers expect a comparatively low-scoring affair.

Odds as of January 8, 2025 at ESPN Sportsbook. Seize an ESPN Wager promo to wager on Panthers vs Utah tonight.

Key Accidents

Panthers:

• D Aaron Ekblad (decrease physique) – Questionable
  Ekblad, an important piece of Florida’s blue line, has missed one recreation with a lower-body damage and is taken into account a game-time determination for tonight’s contest. The 27-year-old has 25 factors (7G, 18A) in 40 video games this season and logs main minutes in all conditions. His presence can be sorely missed if he can’t swimsuit up.

Ekblad and Mikkola will each take warmups tonight in Utah, per Maurice.

In the event that they really feel good, they’ll play,

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) January 8, 2025

• D Niko Mikkola (higher physique) – Questionable
  Acquired in a commerce with St. Louis final season, Mikkola has been a gentle presence on Florida’s again finish. Nonetheless, he’s been sidelined for the previous 5 video games with an upper-body difficulty and stays questionable for tonight. The 27-year-old has eight factors (1G, 7A) and a +10 score in 35 appearances.

Utah:

• None
  The Hockey Membership don’t have any notable accidents to report and will have their full lineup out there for this matchup.

The potential absence of key defensemen Ekblad and Mikkola is regarding for Florida and will tilt this recreation additional in Utah’s favor. With each gamers lacking observe time and being game-time calls, it’s unclear in the event that they’ll be at 100% even when they do play.

That uncertainty, mixed with Utah’s well being and powerful superior metrics, makes the Hockey Membership an interesting underdog play at dwelling. Again Utah +1.5 at -215, and take into account a small moneyline wager at +130.