A Tuesday tilt in Sunrise against the cross-state rival Florida Panthers wasn't a must-win affair.
But it was supremely important all the same for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
With only one game in hand on its cross-state rival, Tampa Bay couldn't afford a loss to the Panthers, which occupied second place in the Atlantic Division and owned a four-point advantage over the Lightning entering Tuesday. The third of four regular season meetings between the two teams had the potential for a four-point swing.
A loss would send the Lightning tumbling further down the division standings and damage an already fragile psyche.
A win would set them right back in the thick of the Atlantic playoff chase (it's early, we know) with the top two teams in the Eastern Conference entering AMALIE Arena Thursday (Boston) and Saturday (Washington).
With several implications on the line, the Lightning turned in one of their finest performances of the season - and maybe their best overall defensively - in a 2-1 victory, as dominant a one-goal win one can have in the NHL.
Burns: 3 Things we learned from a win in Sunrise
Bryan Burns on the PK setting the tone, another strong start from Vasy and a strong finish

© Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images
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Postgame | Steven Stamkos
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Stamkos, Killorn score in 2-1 victory vs. Panthers
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TBL@FLA: Killorn backhands rebound into the twine