January 9, 2025

Sport and Betting News

Prediction, Odds & Injury Updates for Panthers vs Utah Game on Wednesday, Jan. 8

13 mins
  • The Florida Panthers face the Utah Hockey Club on Wednesday Night Hockey
  • We’ve made our Panthers vs Utah prediction for Wednesday, January 8, 2025
  • Read below for Panthers vs Utah prediction and odds for tonight’s game on TNT

The reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers (24-15-2) head to Salt Lake City to battle the Utah Hockey Club (17-15-7) on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM Eastern Time at Delta Center, with national coverage on TNT.

Florida enters as -150 road favorites, while the over/under is set at 5.5 goals. Can the upstart Utah squad pull off the upset as +130 home underdogs? Let’s break down the matchup and make our Panthers vs Utah prediction.

Here is our Panthers vs Utah prediction for Wednesday Night Hockey.

Panthers vs Utah Prediction

I’m backing the Utah Hockey Club to cover +1.5 goals (-215) and see value on their moneyline at +130. The Panthers are the superior team on paper as defending champs, but they have struggled recently, winning just two of their last six games. Florida’s offense has also dried up, scoring two goals or less in five of those contests.

Meanwhile, Utah is in a 7-game homestand and playing inspired hockey. The Hockey Club are just four points out of a playoff spot and have proved valuable in nationally televised games, going 2-0 with wins over Chicago and Vancouver.

The advanced stats also favor Utah. At 5v5, they rank 4th in the NHL in expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at 53.86%, indicating they consistently generate more high-danger chances than opponents. Utah’s power play is clicking at 22.2% (16th) and will test Florida’s mediocre penalty kill (81.5%, 12th).

Utah is without starting goaltender Connor Ingram, but backup Karel Vejmelka has held his own, posting a .914 save percentage in nine starts. Ingram’s absence hasn’t been as detrimental as some feared, thanks to Vejmelka’s steady play.

Offensively, Utah’s top line of Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther has been productive. Keller leads the team with 39 points, while Cooley and Guenther each have 34 points.

Another factor is injuries, as Florida could be without star defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola, who are both game-time decisions. Their absences would be a major blow to the Panthers’ blue line. Utah has no significant injuries to report.

I expect a tight, hard-fought battle with the youthful Utah squad riding their home crowd’s energy to keep things close. Back the Hockey Club +1.5 at -215, with a smaller play on their +130 moneyline. The over 5.5 is also worth considering.

Wednesday Hockey Picks:

  • Utah +1.5 (-215)
  • Utah ML (+130)

Panthers vs Utah Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
FLA Panthers -1.5 (+170) -150 Over 5.5 (-125)
UTH Hockey Club +1.5 (-215) +130 Under 5.5 (+105)

The Panthers are currently favored on the moneyline at -150, meaning a $150 bet would return a profit of $100 if they win. Utah are +130 home underdogs, offering a potential $130 profit on a $100 wager.

Florida is -1.5 (+170) on the puck line, while Utah is +1.5 (-215). A Panthers puck line bet would require them to win by 2+ goals, while a Utah puck line bet cashes if they win outright or lose by a single tally.

The game total is 5.5 goals, with the over at -125 and the under at +105. This suggests oddsmakers are expecting a relatively low-scoring affair.

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

Key Injuries

Panthers:

  • D Aaron Ekblad (lower body) – Questionable
    Ekblad, a vital piece of Florida’s blue line, has missed one game with a lower-body injury and is considered a game-time decision for tonight’s contest. The 27-year-old has 25 points (7G, 18A) in 40 games this season and logs major minutes in all situations. His presence would be sorely missed if he can’t suit up.
  • D Niko Mikkola (upper body) – Questionable
    Acquired in a trade with St. Louis last season, Mikkola has been a steady presence on Florida’s back end. However, he’s been sidelined for the past five games with an upper-body issue and remains questionable for tonight. The 27-year-old has eight points (1G, 7A) and a +10 rating in 35 appearances.

Utah:

  • None
    The Hockey Club have no notable injuries to report and should have their full lineup available for this matchup.

The potential absence of key defensemen Ekblad and Mikkola is concerning for Florida and could tilt this game further in Utah’s favor. With both players missing practice time and being game-time calls, it’s unclear if they’ll be at 100% even if they do play.

That uncertainty, combined with Utah’s health and strong advanced metrics, makes the Hockey Club an appealing underdog play at home. Back Utah +1.5 at -215, and consider a small moneyline wager at +130.

  • BET365 SPORTSBOOK

    BET $5 & GET $150 IN BONUS BETS WITH CODE SBD365

  • DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK

    BET $5 & GET $250 IN BONUS BETS INSTANTLY!

  • FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK

    BET $5 & GET $200 IN BONUS BETS GUARANTEED!

  • BETMGM SPORTSBOOK

    GET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS + 2ND CHANCE TD CASH BACK!

  • CAESARS SPORTSBOOK

    BET $1 & DOUBLE YOUR WINNINGS ON YOUR NEXT 10 BETS

  • Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA); (877) 8-HOPENY (NY); 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ); (888) 789-7777 (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN); mdgamblinghelp.org (MD); morethanagame.nc.gov (NC); 1800gambler.net (WV)

The Carolina Panthers are set to face off against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Jan. 8 in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. As fans eagerly anticipate the game, there are a few key factors to consider when making predictions and assessing the odds for this game.

First and foremost, it’s important to take into account any recent injury updates for both teams. Injuries can have a significant impact on a team’s performance and can greatly affect the outcome of a game. As of now, both the Panthers and the Jazz are relatively healthy, with no major injuries reported. However, it’s always possible that a player could sustain an injury during the game, so it’s important to stay updated on any developments leading up to tip-off.

In terms of predicting the outcome of the game, the odds currently favor the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have been on a hot streak recently, winning seven of their last ten games and currently sitting in the top spot in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Panthers have struggled this season and are currently near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

That being said, anything can happen in basketball, and upsets are always a possibility. The Panthers have shown flashes of potential throughout the season and have the talent to compete with any team in the league. If they can put together a strong performance on both ends of the court, they could potentially pull off a surprise victory over the Jazz.

In conclusion, the Panthers vs. Jazz game on Wednesday, Jan. 8 is shaping up to be an intriguing matchup. While the odds may favor the Jazz, anything can happen in basketball, and it will be interesting to see how both teams perform on game day. Stay tuned for injury updates and be sure to tune in to see how this exciting game unfolds.

Related News