In the third matchup in four years, the Florida Panthers took on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs. The Panthers had home ice advantage this time around due to their higher regular season ranking. Game 1 was held at 12:30 pm at Amarant Bank arena in the Sunshine State. Here is a breakdown of the game period by period:
First Period:
The Panthers came out strong right from the start, playing with intensity and physicality. Sam Reinhart scored the first goal for the Panthers at 6:17 minutes, deflecting a shot from Gustav Forsling. Brandon Hagel tied it up for the Lightning at 16:04. The period ended with both teams showing strong offensive play.
Second Period:
Tampa Bay dominated the first half of the period, with aggressive defense and physical play. Florida took a penalty, but their penalty kill held off the Lightning’s powerplay. Nick Paul’s holding penalty set the Panthers up for a chance to take the lead in the third.
Third Period:
Florida started the period with a powerplay opportunity and Carter Verhaeghe capitalized on a pass from Aleksander Barkov to put the Panthers ahead 2-1. Matthew Tkachuk sealed the deal with an empty-net goal at 17:55. The Lightning scored a late goal, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Panthers.
Takeaways:
The Panthers showcased strong defensive play and offensive threat in Game 1. Their depth and speed give them an edge over the Lightning. Both teams had solid goaltending performances, and the Panthers seem to be the favorites going forward in the series.
