TAMPA, Fla. — In a thrilling game, Eetu Luostarinen was instrumental with one goal and three assists, propelling the Florida Panthers to a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. This victory secured Florida’s place in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Sam Reinhart also found the back of the net for Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves, as the Panthers, reigning Stanley Cup champions, eliminated their in-state rivals for the second consecutive year in the first round.
“This series was incredibly challenging every year it becomes more difficult,” Barkov remarked. “We’re thrilled with the outcome.”
The Panthers are set to face the victor of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators series, with Toronto currently leading 3-2. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday.
For the Lightning, Nick Paul, Gage Goncalves, and Jake Guentzel managed to score, while Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded 25 saves. Having reached the Stanley Cup Final three consecutive years from 2020-2022, Tampa Bay has faced first-round exits for the past three seasons and now holds a 1-9 record in their last ten home playoff games.
“We have immense belief in our team, and that will remain,” expressed Lightning captain Victor Hedman. “After three straight seasons being eliminated early, we must address this next year.”
Bennett, who previously received a penalty leading to Tampa Bay’s goal, scored with just under five minutes left in the second period, barely six seconds after his return from the penalty box. His shot slipped past Vasilevskiy, reinstating Florida’s lead at 4-3.
“It was tough being penalized twice, especially after conceding a goal,” Bennett admitted. “I was anxious but luckily, Lundell set me up beautifully after I returned. It was a relief to score.”
The game saw Tampa Bay scoring the initial goal when Goncalves found the net only 2:33 into the match. Florida quickly responded with a power-play goal from Verhaeghe and shortly after, Lundell converted a Brad Marchand pass into another goal at 10:06.
Paul brought the Lightning level again with his second goal of the series at 12:16 in the first. Barkov reclaimed the lead for Florida just 52 seconds into the second by tipping in a Gustav Forsling shot. However, Guentzel broke Tampa Bay’s power-play drought with a goal at 9:57.
Luostarinen added another goal at 13:02 in the third period, followed by an empty-net goal from Reinhart with 4:24 remaining, cementing Florida’s advance past the Lightning once more.
Each of the last five years, either Tampa Bay or Florida has represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.
“Both teams are in their prime and highly competitive,” concluded Panthers coach Paul Maurice.