It was a game that was highly anticipated. By both fan bases. Two recent Stanley Cup Champions, both residing in the Sunshine State. Both teams are riding high coming into this game. The Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t lost in regulation since January 26th. Going 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Florida Panthers had gone 8-2 in their last 10 games. This game Monday night had all the makings of a real barn burner. Ultimately, it was the Panthers coming out on top. Their 2-1 win halts the Lightning win streak.
Clash of the Titans
Winning on the road in the NHL is never an easy task. During the month of February, the Lightning won both their road games handily. As the Panthers were taking the ice without Matthew Tkachuk, it had to bode well for the Bolts. In the first period, it was the Lightning who came out of the blocks with their hair on fire.
They were controlling the tempo of the game but the Panthers withstood this initial onslaught. Despite giving the Lightning two power play chances, the Panther held firm. On the other side, the team defense by the Lightning was solid. So was the goaltending of Andrei Vasilevskiy. The first period ended as it began, in a scoreless tie. Fans were settling in as this game was getting good.
Special Teams Tell The Tale
Heading into the second period, the back and forth of the game took on a playoff feel. While the Lightning were holding on to the scoreless tie, the Panthers were knocking the snot out of their rivals. The game ended with Florida having 38 hits on Lightning players while Tampa could only muster 12 hits. You expect those kinds of numbers with Tkachuk in the lineup, not in a game he doesn’t dress.
Just after the nine minute mark of the middle period, the first goal of the game was scored. The Lightning were attempting to come out of their zone. J.J. Moser backhanded a pass that was off the mark. Aleksander Barkov snatched the puck and snapped a shot past Vasilevskiy to give Florida the 1 – 0 lead.
Shortly after this initial goal, the Panthers put the Lightning back on the power play. Looking for the tying goal, the Lightning power play sputtered. Give credit to Florida’s penalty kill. They made it difficult to enter their zone. Even when the Lightning got into the Panther zone, the penalty killers challenged every pass and smothered the visitors.
A few minutes after that successful kill, Moser committed a penalty putting the Panthers on the power play. It only took six seconds for Florida to capitalize with the extra man. Barkov scored his second goal of the game giving his team a 2 – 0 lead.
The Panthers playing good hosts, gave the Lightning yet another power play at the end of the second period. This time, it was a double minor putting the Lightning on the power play for four minutes. Bupkis. That is what the Lightning did. They could barely get a shot off and were shut out on the power play.
Halting the Lightning Win Streak
Down by two goals entering the final period, the work was certainly cut out for the Lightning. As they have shown over the previous 10 games, the Lightning were resilient. They definitely came into the third period with a little bit of jump. Determined to score, the Lightning were cycling the puck in the Panthers zone when the puck found Brayden Point.
Point finagled a way to get a decent shot on Segei Bobrovsky. The Panther’s goalie stopped Point’s shot but failed to control the rebound. Point pounced on the rebound and lifted the puck past Bobrovsky to make it a 2-1 game with 18 minutes remaining in regulation.
“He gets the rebound, SCORREEE!!! BRAYDEN POINT!”
Pointer gets the Bolts on the board in the third!#TBLvsFLA
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9Tynk9H
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/vJJv0bLs8S— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) March 4, 2025
After Point’s goal, the game ended much like it started. A lot of back and forth on the ice but neither defense gave up anything. Despite pulling Vasilevskiy in the final 90 seconds, the Lightning had some good looks at the net but failed to light the lamp. Game ended 2 – 1 in favor of the Panthers.
Stars of the Game
- Aleksansder Barkov – Two goals were the difference in the game.
- Sergei Bobrovsky – Saved 28 of 29 shots to solidify the win for Florida
- Brayden Point – One goal to prevent Bobrovsky getting a shutout
What’s Next
Tuesday night at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Puck drops at 7:00 pm.
