Panthers erase deficit with 2 goals
in 11 seconds, beat Lightning 4-2 to take 3-1 series lead
[April 29, 2025]
By ALANIS THAMES
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones scored third-period
goals 11 seconds apart and the Florida Panthers stormed from behind
to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Monday night to take a 3-1
lead in the first-round series.
Anton Lundell also scored and Carter Verhaeghe added an
empty-netter. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots.
The Panthers had managed just three shots on goal in the third
before Ekblad tied it with 3:47 remaining, sending the crowd at
Amerant Bank Arena into a roar. Jones found the back of the net
shortly after to go ahead and erase a two-goal deficit.
The goals were the fastest by defensemen from the same team in
Stanley Cup Playoffs history.
Florida will now have a chance to clinch the series Wednesday night
in Tampa.
“From Game 1 you could feel the hatred in the locker room," Jones
said. “You could feel the hatred on the ice. But it’s most
importantly about winning. The job’s not finished. We’ve got to go
to Tampa and have a good game.”
Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel left in the second period after taking a
high hit from Ekblad, who made contact with the left wing’s chin
area and sent him onto his back. Hagel went straight to the locker
room and no penalty was called.
Lundell got the Panthers on the board at 9:06 in the second after
Florida had sent many good looks either too wide or high at goalie
Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 19 saves. Mitchell Chaffee and Erik
Cernak responded for the Lightning with another pair of goals 11
seconds apart to make it 2-1 heading into the third.
Ekblad had a tying goal overturned in the third after a successful
challenge by the Lightning for offside, which kept the score at 2-1
before the defenseman, in just his second game back from a 20-game
suspension, picked up a rebound and put it past Vasilevskiy.
[to top of second column] |
Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) celebrates after his goal
during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup
first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday,
April 28, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
“Good for him,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice.
“The first nongoal was a heater. And you've seen that from him. The
tying goal, some great patience. So good for him, does a great job
of getting up the ice and timing when to go in and to take that
chance. So he's an important part of what we do.”
Hagel did not return after the hit from Ekblad, which happened
before Tampa Bay's goals. Hagel was back from a one game suspension
after his late hit knocked Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov out of
Game 2.
The play on Monday reflected the chippy nature of the series, which
has had a somewhat controversial hit in three straight games. After
Hagel’s hit in Game 2, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk landed a late hit
on Jake Guentzel in Game 3 and was assessed a five-minute major,
though he was not suspended.
Florida’s Niko Mikkola was hit with a five-minute major and a game
misconduct early in the third period Monday for boarding Zemgus
Girgensons, who was on his knees.
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single
game,” said Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper. “Why are you asking me the
question? If anyone in here has something (to say), stand up and let
me know.”
The Panthers were able to kill off that penalty, giving Florida the
momentum it needed to mount a comeback.
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