The Tampa Bay Lightning got their first-round series against the Florida Panthers started on April 22, and it could not have gone much worse for them. The Lightning fell to the Panthers by a 6-2 final score and now trail the series 1-0 because of it.
It was an all-around tough game for the Lightning. They struggled defensively, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had a shaky night, allowing six goals on just 16 shots.
This was certainly not the way the Lightning wanted to start their series against the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Now, they desperately need a bounce-back performance in Game 2, or they will go down 2-0 in the series. This would put the Bolts in a bad position, as the Panthers will have home-ice advantage for Games 3 and 4. Thus, the Lightning need a win big time in Game 2.
If the Lightning can pick up a win in Game 2, it would undoubtedly make things less stressful for them. Going down 2-0 in the series would be a big challenge for the Lightning to overcome, so we will need to wait and see if they can avoid that from occurring from here.
Game 2 between the Lightning and Panthers will take place on April 24 at Amalie Arena. It will be interesting to see if the Lightning can get a much-needed win.
Recent Lightning News
Big Lightning Trade Benefited Team Greatly This SeasonThe Tampa Bay Lightning made several moves this past off-season after a quick playoff exit. One of their most notable moves was reacquiring defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
Lightning Surging Rookies Could Be Game-Changers In PlayoffsThe Tampa Bay Lightning kick off their playoff series against the Florida Panthers on April 22. It will be a series for fans to watch, as both teams have plenty of stars and skill. They also have a very deep rivalry, which makes the games even more entertaining when they play each other.
Ex-Lightning Tough Guy Out For Beginning Of PlayoffsDuring this past off-season, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick. The move was understandable, as the Lightning needed more cap space, and Jeannot struggled to find his fit with Tampa Bay.