The Tampa Bay Lightning (36-25-6) defeated the Florida Panthers (45-19-4) 5-3 on Saturday evening in Sunrise, Tampa Bay has now won three games in a row before beginning a trip to the West Coast this week.
The Lightning built a 4-0 lead midway through the second period, thanks in part to two goals from Steven Stamkos. Stamkos finished with four points (two goals and two assists) on the night.
The Panthers rallied to pull within 4-3 at the 16:08 mark of the third period. Late in the third, when Florida had pulled their goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Nikita Kucherov scored an empty netter to clinch the win. Kucherov finished with two points in this game.
Bobrovsky went 11-of-15 in net for the Panthers in the losing effort. For the Lightning, Andrei Vasilevskiy had a spectacular game, saving making 47 saves on 50 shots in this game.
The Lightning now head west for the next four games beginning in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Puck drop between the Lightning and Golden Knights is scheduled for 10:00 PM from Las Vegas Tuesday.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES