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FLORIDA PANTHERS (A1) VERSUS TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (A3)
The Florida Panthers dispatched the Washington Capitals in six games to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 1996. Elsewhere, the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning emerged victorious in a seven-game slugfest against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams handled adversity well in the opening round with the Panthers coming from behind for wins in Games 4 and 5. The Lightning managed to win despite trailing 3-2 in the series and going to overtime in Game 6.
The Panthers will have home-ice advantage in the Sunshine State series after finishing the 2021-22 season with the best record in the league. The Lightning managed to win two games on the road in the opening round, including a winner-take-all Game 7, and took two of three games on the road versus the Panthers in the 2021 postseason.
Carter Verhaeghe led the way for Florida in Round 1 with six goals and 12 points in six games. He scored the game-winning goal in three straight contests to conclude the series. That includes two overtime winners. Verhaeghe will play against his former team in the second round of the playoffs. Claude Giroux, who has been excellent addition since he was acquired from Philadelphia, registered three goals and seven points against the Capitals. Aleksander Barkov provided two goals and four helpers along with a team-high 22 shots on goal, while Aaron Ekblad produced one goal and four helpers following his return from injury.
Nikita Kucherov topped Tampa Bay in scoring in Round 1 with eight points, including a team-high six assists. Victor Hedman was not far behind with two goals and five helpers. He also led the Lightning with 27 shots on target. Ondrej Palat and Ross Colton supplied five points each on three goals and two assists apiece. Steven Stamkos contributed two goals and two assists along with 18 shots.
The Panthers and Lightning met up a year ago in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Tampa Bay won in six games. It wouldn’t be a surprise if there was a similar outcome this time around, but the status of Brayden Point, who was injured in Game 7 versus Toronto, could be a major factor. The Panthers were banged up in the opening round as well, with Verhaeghe, Ekblad and Ben Chiarot playing through issues. The postseason is often a battle of attrition and this second-round matchup is bound to be physical. These two teams have displayed plenty of unpleasantness towards each other in the past and facing off in another postseason series is sure to stir up some feelings of contempt. Discipline will no doubt be crucial, but it won’t hurt the Lightning if they step over the line if the power play of the Panthers doesn’t improve substantially following a non-existent showing in Round 1. Florida didn’t look completely dialed in against Washington, but appeared to be getting there by the end of the series and there should be some additional motivation for revenge. The Lightning will be a much stiffer test to see if the Panthers are a true contender or a pretender. Tampa Bay has proven that they know what it takes to win in the playoffs, which makes them a dangerous squad to play against on their quest for a third straight championship title.
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Players to Watch:
Sam Reinhart – Reinhart tied for third on the Panthers with two goals in the opening round of the postseason. He lit the lamp twice in the final three games of the series against Washington. Reinhart, who is playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career, has three points through six outings. Additionally, he provided two goals and five points in four matches against Tampa Bay during the regular season.
Nick Paul – Paul accounted for two goals and two assists against Toronto in Round 1. He scored both goals for the Lightning in Game 7 to power the team’s offense in the victory. Paul, who was acquired from Ottawa at the trade deadline, is also playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time.
Anthony Cirelli – Cirelli only chipped in one goal in seven games during Tampa Bay’s first-round series. He has 12 goals and 27 points in 76 career playoff contests, but his defensive play makes him a valuable member of the team. Cirelli was instrumental in the team’s lockdown of Game 7 and he will continue to see action against the top players of the opposition versus Florida.
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Additional Series Notes:
Brayden Point suffered a lower-body injury in Game 7 against Toronto. He tried to come back to the contest, but stayed on the bench after just one shift when he struggled to get off the ice. Point is doubtful to play in the start of Round 2.
Mason Marchment sat out the final two games of the opening round because of a lower-body injury. He hasn’t been practicing and he is not expected to be ready for the start of Round 2.
Tampa Bay went 7-for-33 on the power play in the first round. They also surrendered two shorthanded goals against.
Florida was 0-for-18 on the man advantage during the opening round.
The Lightning allowed just four power-play goals against on 28 times shorthanded. They also scored one goal on the penalty kill
The Panthers permitted seven power-play goals on 24 opposition man-advantage opportunities.
The Lightning have a 17-0 record in playoff games following a loss since the start of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Tampa Bay and Florida combined for 41 goals during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 32 across the first four matches. Tampa Bay had 24 to Florida’s 17.
The Panthers won a league-high three times in the opening round despite trailing after the first period.
The Lightning opened the scoring five times, which ranks second in the postseason, and won four times (tied for the most) when lighting the lamp first.
Tampa Bay had a league-best four wins when leading after the first period.
Florida sits second in the playoffs with 18 goals scored at 5v5.
The Lightning rank first in the postseason with 306 hits.
