Panthers Claw Back but Lightning Strikes for 5-3 Victory at Amerant Bank Arena
The Florida Panthers, with a record of 35-29, faced off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who came into the game with a 40-22 record. The final score reflected a hard-fought battle that ended in favor of the visitors: 5-3.
The Panthers entered the game looking to capitalize on their home ice advantage at Amerant Bank Arena. Despite falling behind early as the Lightning scored twice in the first period, they showed resilience by netting two goals in the second period to even things up. The third period saw both teams fighting for dominance, but it was ultimately Tampa Bay who secured an additional goal to take control of the game.
Florida's offense was aggressive throughout, taking a total of 50 shots on goal compared to Tampa Bay's 16. However, efficiency was on Tampa Bay's side as they managed a shooting percentage of 31 percent while Florida had just six percent. The Panthers did manage to convert one out of seven powerplay opportunities and also scored shorthanded once during their nine penalty kills.
On defense, Florida delivered more hits than their opponents with a total count of 24 versus Tampa Bay's 14. They also showcased their ability to disrupt plays by achieving an impressive number of takeaways totaling thirteen.
The goaltending efforts for both teams were noteworthy; however, it was Tampa Bay’s goalie who stood out with an exceptional performance making forty-seven saves and boasting a save percentage rounding up to one hundred percent. In contrast, Florida’s goaltender saved eleven shots and faced four goals before an empty-netter brought Tampa Bay’s tally up by one more.
Looking ahead after this intense matchup between these Sunshine State rivals, fans can anticipate another exciting home game for the Panthers as they prepare to host Nashville Predators at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on March 21st at around nine o'clock Eastern Time Zone evening hours. This upcoming contest will be available for viewing on ESPN+ and Hulu platforms.