TAMPA — For the first three games of their playoff series against the Florida Panthers and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, one could see the frustration of the Tampa Bay Lightning mounting. On Saturday, the Lightning finally broke through. Tampa Bay scored three goals on Bobrovsky in the opening period, held off a late rally from the Panthers, and kept its season going with a 6-3 win in Game 4. Bobrovsky and the Panthers get another shot to end this series in Game 5 on Monday night in Sunrise. “They came in with a good pace. Give them credit; it’s a good win,’’ Bobrovsky told FHN following Tampa Bay ..read more

TAMPA — Brandon Montour made a statement and defended his good friend and Florida Panthers teammate Nick Cousins after their Game 3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. Montour rocked a red shirt featuring a collage of photos featuring Cousins. In a season in which Cousins took a lot of heat from fans and media alike, Montour wanted to set the record straight. “I’m just paying my respects to a good friend of mine,” Montour said when asked about the red shirt. “I think the media and everyone is giving him a little bit of heat this year and we have fun with it. But it’s ..read more

TAMPA — The Florida Panthers expected the Tampa Bay Lightning to come out Saturday as if its season depended on it. Not sure the Panthers were actually completely ready for what Tampa brought, however. The Lightning played its best period of this series, opening with three goals in the first 16 minutes of play. Although the Panthers got within a goal, Tampa Bay and its biggest stars showed up for this one and kept the first-round series going with a 6-3 win. Florida still controls the best-of-7 series with a 3-1 lead; Game 5 will be Monday night in Sunrise. The Lightning got its first three go ..read more

TAMPA — The Florida Panthers know they are going to have a fight on their hands today when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning at 5. Coach Paul Maurice does not want to talk about the possibility of a series sweep, figuring the ego of the champion Lightning is bruised enough. Tampa Bay has not been swept in a playoff series since 2019. Speaking of Sergei Bobrovsky, the former Columbus goalie will be in net for Florida today. Tampa Bay’s starting goalie will again by Andrei Vasilevskiy. Florida will be going for its second playoff sweep in its past three series. Coach Paul Maurice said on Friday ..read more

TAMPA — Yes, the Florida Panthers have beaten the Tampa Bay Lightning more than any other team in NHL. It just has not happened when it counted most. Today, the Panthers have the opportunity to escape the large shadow cast by their cross-state rivals as they go for the sweep in their best-of-7 first-round playoff series. Florida may be 77-51-19 with 10 ties during the regular-season against Tampa Bay, but it is 0-2 in the playoffs against the Lightning. The Lightning has also brought the Stanley Cup back to the Sunshine State three times in its history, most recently in consecutive years ..read more

TAMPA — Kyle Okposo reintroduced himself to playoff hockey by bringing the thunder with the Florida Panthers. In his first playoff game since 2016, Okposo played a big role for Florida, getting an assist and providing the screen for the goal which gave the team a lead it would never relinquish in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 on Thursday night. “It’s just fun to have that feeling again,” Okposo said. “The postseason is extremely special and you don’t know how good something is until it’s gone. “When you are not in it for eight year ..read more

TAMPA — Lightning coach Jon Cooper knows his team is in deep against the Florida Panthers in this playoff series. And it could be a short-lived postseason run for the Lightning if the Panthers have their way. Florida can end this opening-round series in a four-game sweep on Saturday. The Panthers come into Saturday’s Game 4 holding a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. On Thursday night, Cooper said he challenged his players in their postgame meeting. “It is tough when you get into a situation like this,” Cooper said following Florida’s 5-3 win at Amalie Arena. “What do you say at thi ..read more

TAMPA — Steven Lorentz did not expect to be in the Florida Panthers lineup during the playoffs. The 28-year-old forward was a healthy scratch for most of the regular season. As he had done throughout his career, he fought his way back into the lineup and proved the Panthers right when they called on him when Ryan Lomberg went down with an illness. He got an assist and scored the game-winning goal in Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping Florida take a 3-0 series lead. The Panthers go for the series sweep Saturday at 5. Thursday, Lorentz could not stop smiling as he wen ..read more

Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito brought in Kevin Stenlund during the offseason to help shore up the team’s lackluster penalty kill. That part of the game is one of Florida’s most improved, and it has been on display in this opening-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last season, Florida’s PK finished an anemic 76.0 percent, ranked 23rd in the NHL. It was unacceptable. Stenlund was a skilled specialist who flew under the radar. Never was his value more apparent than in Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Lightning in Game 3. That put Florida a win away from a s ..read more

TAMPA —Near the end of the regular season, the depth players on the Florida Panthers had the chance to compete for a spot in the regular playoff rotation. And it only brought them more solidarity. ”It’s no secret,” Steven Lorentz said. “Depth wins championships and you need guys to contribute.” They certainly did just that on Thursday night. Helped along greatly from both their stars and role players alike, the Panthers beat the Lightning 5-3 in Game 3 of this first-round playoff series. Florida is now in complete control of the best-of-7 series, and can sweep the Lightning out of th ..read more