Panthers Hold on For Game 2 Win, Take 2-0 Series Lead Over Lightning
The Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in Game 2 of the first round on Thursday night at Amalie Arena, stealing both opening road games to take a 2-0 series lead as the games transition to Sunrise.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 19 shots he faced for his fourth career playoff shutout.
Nate Schmidt opened the scoring with his third goal of the series just 4:25 into the game, giving the Panthers another early 1-0 lead.
Schmidt’s goal remained the only until the final moments of the game, when Sam Bennett tucked away an empty netter with 2.9 seconds left to seal away the win for the Panthers.
While Florida will be ecstatic to return home with a 2-0 lead in the series, the happiness is overshadowed with gloom as the health of their star player and captain Aleksander Barkov is in the air.
At the 9:51 mark of the third period, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel lit up Barkov away from the puck. Hagel was assessed a five-minute major for interference; Barkov left the game and went to the Panthers’ dressing room.
Barkov remained on the ice, in an apparent daze while speaking with the team trained. He went to the Panthers’ room and did not return to the game.
Unlike Tuesday’s Game 1, which saw the Panthers light the lamp six times on just 16 shots in a 6-2 routing, Thursday’s Game 2 contest was more of what you expect from a playoff game, with just one goal between the two sides until Bennett’s empty netter in the dying seconds of the match.
Last season, the Panthers also won the opening two games of the series — though Games 1-2 were in Sunrise — and took a 3-0 lead on the Lightning before eventually taking Tampa down in five.
The Panthers — holding a 2-0 series lead — will get back top-pair defenseman Aaron Ekblad for Game 3. Ekblad finished serving a 20-game suspension for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
Game 3 will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST at Amerant Bank Arena as the series shifts to Sunrise.
What a thrilling game! The Panthers showed incredible grit holding off that late push by the Lightning. Playoff hockey always brings such unmatched intensity—it’s what makes sports so captivating. It’s interesting how that same passion and nail-biting excitement is present in other sports too, like Cricket, where momentum shifts and close finishes keep fans on the edge of their seats. Great coverage—looking forward to more updates as the series continues!