An outstanding performance by goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and crucial scoring moments led the Lightning to kick off their significant five-game road trip with a win.
The opening period showcased a balanced battle in terms of possession, shots on goal, shot attempts, and scoring opportunities. However, the Lightning were the ones to break through, securing a 2-0 lead. Their goals stemmed from effective exits from their defensive zone, resulting in fast breaks. Right at the game’s start, Erik Cernak pushed the puck from his end to the center, where it eluded Niko Mikkola’s stick. This error allowed Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel to charge into the offensive zone two-on-one. Stamkos’s pass, intended for Hagel, instead ricocheted off Brandon Montour and found its way into the Florida net. Later, Nick Perbix sent the puck to the center, where Nick Paul picked it up and passed it to Mikey Eyssimont. Eyssimont, having slipped past the Florida defense, faced a breakaway from the blue line and, despite Sergei Bobrovsky stopping his initial shot, managed to score on the rebound.
After the first period, Florida led in shots 12-11 and had three power-play opportunities, though one was cut short by a Lightning power play. Despite this, the Lightning put up a strong first period.
The game’s narrative shifted in the last 40 minutes. The Lightning found themselves outshot 38-5, with shot attempts at 57-19. They struggled to clear the puck from their defensive zone, allowing the Panthers prolonged offensive periods. The Lightning also had difficulty stopping Florida’s re-entries and continued to incur penalties, giving the Panthers additional power-play chances.
Despite these challenges, the Panthers managed to score multiple times but had one goal disallowed due to a penalty just before Josh Mahura’s score. They did, however, score through a Matthew Tkachuk shorthanded goal and a Sam Reinhart power-play goal.
Even being heavily outshot in the second period, the Lightning miraculously ended it still two goals ahead. Darren Raddysh and Stamkos scored, with Stamkos’s goal coming during a two-man advantage. However, Tkachuk and Reinhart quickly responded with their goals, but Vasilevskiy’s exceptional saves kept the score at 4-2 after two periods.
Vasilevskiy continued his brilliance into the third period, stopping 19 shots. Reinhart managed to score again, but Vasilevskiy’s crucial saves, especially a notable one against Aleksander Barkov, helped maintain the lead. Kucherov then sealed the game with an empty-net goal, finalizing the score at 5-3.
Despite the game’s challenges, the Lightning secured their two points and prepared for the rest of their road trip in the Pacific Time Zone.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game:
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy — Lightning. With 47 saves, he was instrumental in the win.
2. Steven Stamkos — Lightning. Contributed significantly with two goals and two assists.
3. Aleksander Barkov — Panthers. Despite the loss, his performance was noteworthy.