The Florida Panthers’ postseason hopes were teetering, their top two centers were injured and out of the lineup, and the looming specter of the Friday trade deadline left them at a pivotal moment in their season, so, of course, all they did Tuesday was traveling across the state to face their Stanley Cup-contending rival and pull out a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Panthers won 4-1 with an often-dominant, ultimately nerve-wracking performance in Tampa. Florida outshot the Lightning, 33-18, in 5-on-5 action and raced out to a 3-0 lead, but had to weather a barrage of Tampa Bay power plays in the second half of the game and win multiple challenges to hang on for the badly needed win.
After the Panthers took a 3-0 lead, the Lightning had one goal taken off the board in the second period. when Paul Maurice successfully challenged for offside. After it cut Florida’s lead to 3-1, Tampa Bay had another wiped away in the third when the coach Maurice successfully challenged for goaltender interference.
