The Florida Panthers took down the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Sunday night at Amalie Arena, opening the first of two back-to-back games between these rivals. With this victory, Florida improved their performance significantly, highlighted by two quick shorthanded goals during the second period.
The Panthers established their dominance early, taking the lead with Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal at 15:51 of the first period, where he deflected Aaron Ekblad’s point shot past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Just moments before the first intermission, Nick Paul answered back for Tampa by scoring with only 4.6 seconds left on the clock, leaving the teams tied at 1-1 and setting the stage for an electrifying second period.
Things took a turn for the Panthers when Tampa quickly fell victim to their shorthanded prowess. After forward Uvis Balinskis took an interference penalty, Florida’s penalty-kill unit showcased its strength. A.J. Greer seized the opportunity after intercepting the puck from Nikita Kucherov, scoring the Panthers' second goal less than halfway through the second period. Only 42 seconds later, Eetu Luostarinen pushed the Panthers' lead to 3-1 with another shorthanded goal, deftly finishing off on a breakaway after stripping the puck from Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli.
The Lightning managed to claw back with the help of Brayden Point, who scored early in the third period to narrow the lead to 3-2. Point’s quick hands and agility showcased why he has been such a scoring threat, bringing him to 22 goals this season. The excitement continued to build as Tampa hoped to equalize, but Florida’s Spencer Knight stood tall between the pipes, denying multiple attempts by the Lightning.
With time running out, Reinhart sealed the game for Florida, scoring his second of the night with just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, this time hitting the empty net. Reinhart’s performance was stellar as he both opened and closed the scoring, solidifying his status as one of the key players for the Panthers, with two goals claiming his 43rd special teams goal of the calendar year, the highest for the franchise since Dave Andreychuk achieved similar feats back in 1993.
This win marks the Panthers’ fourth consecutive victory, lifting their season record to 18-11-2. They have now won four straight games against the Lightning, highlighting a significant trend and maintaining their grip over their Sunshine State rivals. The Panthers lead the NHL with 10 shorthanded goals this season, setting them apart as not just defensively resolute but also opportunistic on the offensive end during penalty kills.
The rematch between these two teams is already set for Monday night at the Amerant Bank Arena, where fans can expect fierce competition once again. Both teams are eager to get back on the ice after this engaging clash, which highlighted the high stakes of their rivalry. Look for key players from both sides to step up, especially as they continue to vie for playoff positions.
Florida’s recent performances show their readiness to contend for the top spots, backed by powerful plays from Reinhart, solid goaltending from Knight, and the overall strategic gameplay emphasizing special teams. The Panthers will carry this momentum forward, hoping to extend their win streak and capitalize on their newfound advantage over Tampa Bay.
On the advice of head coach Paul Maurice, players will look to review game film and refine their strategies heading back on the ice, keeping their eyes firmly set on yet another victory against the Lightning, whose recent form had seen them win four consecutive games until this clash.
