Tampa Bay Lightning Dominates Florida Panthers Ahead of Playoffs
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — In a commanding performance on Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning overwhelmed the Florida Panthers, clinching a 5-1 victory. This match served as the last contest for both teams in the regular season, setting the stage for their upcoming playoff showdown.
Strong Offensive Display
Brayden Point was the star of the night for the Lightning, contributing a goal and two assists. He opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, setting a dynamic tone for Tampa Bay. Alongside him, Nikita Kucherov netted another goal and provided an assist, while Yanni Gourde delivered two assists in the game. Other notable contributors included Conor Geekie, Jake Guentzel, and Darren Raddysh, all of whom found the back of the net for Tampa Bay. In goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy showcased his skills by turning away 23 shots.
Panthers’ Struggles
The Panthers managed to score only once, with Brad Marchand marking their goal. Florida faced challenges in this matchup, finishing their regular season without regulars such as Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 26 saves during the contest.
Scoring Breakdown
- First Period:
- 1:32 – Brayden Point (TBL) scores the opener.
- 4:35 – Conor Geekie (TBL) extends the lead to 2-0.
- 1:51 – Jake Guentzel (TBL) scores shorthanded, making it 3-0.
- Second Period:
- 4:55 – Nikita Kucherov (TBL) scores to make it 4-0.
- 5:55 – Brad Marchand (FLA) responds for the Panthers.
- 11:22 – Darren Raddysh (TBL) scores on a 5-on-3 power play.
Key Moments and Stats
A critical moment in the game occurred late in the first period when Brandon Hagel of Tampa Bay took a double-minor penalty, giving Florida a power play opportunity. However, just seven seconds into the power play, Anthony Cirelli won a pivotal puck battle and assisted Guentzel for the Lightning’s third goal, flipping the momentum squarely in Tampa’s favor.
In terms of individual accolades, Kucherov achieved a remarkable milestone, reaching 120 points for the season—a feat he has accomplished for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career. This accomplishment places him among an elite group of players in NHL history.
Looking Ahead
As the regular season wraps up, Tampa Bay prepares for their next game against the New York Rangers, scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers will gear up for their playoff series, facing the Lightning in what promises to be an exciting first round matchup.
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