The Florida Panthers decisively defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 Tuesday in the opening game of their Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. Game 1, played at Amalie Arena, saw the Panthers pull away late in the first period and dominate the second, establishing a commanding lead the Lightning could not overcome.
The Lightning appeared to control play for stretches early in the game. Tied 1-1 in the final minute of the first period, Tampa Bay had outshot and outchanced the visiting Panthers, according to coach Jon Cooper, who said he “really liked” his team’s initial effort.
However, the momentum abruptly shifted. The Panthers struck just before the first intermission, then scored three more goals in quick succession early in the second period, netting four straight goals overall in less than 11 minutes of game time. The final three goals came in a span of 5:03 in the middle frame.
Sam Reinhart gave Florida a 2-1 lead late in the first. In the second, Nate Schmidt scored, followed by two power-play goals from Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers finished the night a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play, an area Tampa Bay acknowledged needs improvement. As defenseman Ryan McDonagh noted, "Our PK wasn't as sharp tonight." He added they missed reads and gave Florida credit for capitalizing. Learn more about how the Panthers dominated the scoreboard in Game 1 here.
The Lightning managed to get a goal back from Brayden Point before the end of the second, but Schmidt’s second goal of the game in the third period restored the four-goal cushion. Despite giving up only 16 shots, Tampa Bay struggled to contain the Panthers' timely scoring and overall tenacity. Captain Victor Hedman observed, "We gave up 16 shots, and that's usually a good night."
While the Lightning held an edge in shots on goal and total shots, the Panthers proved more effective, capitalizing on scoring chances and controlling play at both 5-on-5 and on special teams. Goaltending was also a factor, with Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky turning in a stronger performance than Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper reflected on the loss, stating the team needs to move on. Get a different perspective on the game from a Tampa Bay Times analysis.
This series marks the fourth time in five seasons the in-state rivals face off in the playoffs. Previous matchups have often seen the winner advance deep into the postseason, highlighting the significance of this first-round battle. Analysts had widely predicted this contest between two recent Stanley Cup winners would be intensely competitive, potentially conference-final worthy.
Tampa Bay also faced adversity with forward Anthony Cirelli leaving the game with an undisclosed injury in the second period and not returning. His absence adds another challenge against a deep and physical Panthers team.
Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday. While teams losing the first game of a best-of-7 series face uphill odds, the Lightning have historically shown an ability to bounce back from opening losses.
Victor Hedman emphasized the team's focus after the defeat, saying, "For us, it's all about refocusing, make sure we have a good practice tomorrow and get ready for the next one."