The Florida Panthers have once again proven their dominance in the Sunshine State, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round and advancing to the second round for the second consecutive year. Eetu Luostarinen was the star of the night, leading the Panthers with a goal and three assists, showcasing his impressive playmaking abilities.
The Panthers kicked off the series with a bang, winning Game 1 decisively with a score of 6-2, followed by a 2-0 shutout in Game 2. Despite a valiant effort from the Lightning, who managed to snag a 5-1 victory in Game 3, the Panthers bounced back to take Game 4, scoring two goals in a mere 11 seconds during the third period. This set the stage for the decisive Game 5, held on April 30, 2025, at AMALIE Arena.
In the opening moments of Game 5, rookie Gage Goncalves scored his first career playoff goal just 2:33 into the game, giving Tampa Bay an early lead. However, the Panthers quickly responded with back-to-back goals from Carter Verhaege and Anton Lundell, taking a 2-1 lead by the end of the first period.
Nick Paul tied the game for the Lightning at 12:16 in the first, but Florida regained the lead less than a minute into the second period thanks to Aleksander Barkov's redirection. The Lightning's Jake Guentzel evened the score again with a power-play goal midway through the second period, but it was Sam Bennett who scored the go-ahead goal for the Panthers at 15:13, regaining momentum.
Luostarinen's backdoor goal at 13:02 in the third period extended the Panthers' lead to 5-3, and Sam Reinhart sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 15:36. Sergei Bobrovsky was solid in goal, making 26 saves, while Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded 25 saves for Tampa Bay.
This playoff series marked a continuation of the Lightning's struggles in recent postseasons. After making three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances from 2020 to 2022, the Lightning have now been eliminated in the first round for three consecutive years. Their home playoff record has also taken a hit, as they fell to 1-9 in their last ten home playoff games.
As the Panthers celebrate their victory, they will await the outcome of the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, which Toronto currently leads 3-2. The Panthers are eager to make a deep playoff run, aiming for their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final after winning the championship last season against the Edmonton Oilers.
In this series, tensions ran high, with physical play leading to suspensions on both sides. Brandon Hagel was suspended for a game due to a late hit on Aleksander Barkov, while Aaron Ekblad received a two-game suspension for a high elbow on Hagel. Ekblad served the first game of his suspension during Game 5 but will miss the first game of the next round.
The Panthers' performance in this series has sparked excitement among fans, as they look to build on their recent success. With a strong roster and a solid game plan, they are well-positioned to make a run at the championship once again. The anticipation builds as they await their next opponent, hoping to continue their winning ways.
As the dust settles on this heated first-round matchup, the Panthers have solidified their status as the kings of Florida hockey, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. With their eyes set on the prize, the Panthers are ready to take on whatever challenge lies ahead in their quest for another Stanley Cup title.
