TAMPA – Striking three times in the third period, the Florida Panthers clawed their way to a 5-3 win over the rival Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday.
A gutsy effort in enemy territory, the Panthers deployed a lineup of mostly youngsters and newcomers.
“It was the first time to get a look at a whole bunch of guys in a game wearing our sweaters, and I thought we were pretty good on the routes that we're supposed to run and the style that of how we moved the puck wasn't too bad at all,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “Pleased with some of the new guys that we brought in, for sure, and their impact.”
Netting his first goal of the preseason, Bokondji Imama broke the ice for the Panthers when he tipped in a long shot from Donovan Sebrango to make it 1-0 at 19:44 of the first period.
Even with the Lightning using the majority of their regulars – including reigning Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov – the hungry Panthers held them in check in the opening 20 minutes, surrendering just five shots on goal while leading 16-13 in hits.
After killing off a penalty to start the second period, the Panthers went on the offensive and doubled their lead when Kai Schwindt -- with the help of some relentless forechecking from Hunter St. Martin – fired a shot off Andrei Vasilevskiy and into the net to make it 2-0 at 2:29.
“My linemates were doing a great job getting the puck deep,” Schwindt said. “Just a nice hard forecheck, and I was lucky enough to get a bounce there and put it off the back of the goalie. Yeah, I got lucky there, but I'll take it.”
Less than a minute later, Jansen Harkins scored to cut Tampa Bay’s deficit to 2-1 at 3:14.
Keeping the Panthers from quickly regaining their two-goal cushion, Vasilevskiy, who won the second Vezina Trophy of his career last year, stopped Sandis Vilmanis on a breakaway.
Evening the score for the Lightning, Conor Geekie took a dish from Sam O’Reilly and roofed a shot over 6-foot-8 goaltender Cooper Black on a 2-on-0 rush to make it 2-2 at 13:09.
Slowing down Tampa Bay’s momentum, the Panthers held their ground on a 5-on-3 penalty kill that lasted a full 1:55. Black stood tall with several saves, while Alexander Petrovic, who’s in his second stint with Florida, had a key clear at the end of the kill.
In the win, the Panthers went a perfect 4-for-4 on the PK.
“They're a good power play,” said Petrovic, who led Florida’s defensemen with 24:03 of ice time. “They were snapping it around. A couple good blocks, a couple of big saves on that.”
Replaced by Kirill Gerasimyuk after two periods, Black finished with 14 saves.
Hoping to sink his teeth into the coveted third spot on the goaltending depth chart for the Panthers, Black posted a 25-13-4 record with a .903 save percentage last season in the AHL.
“I think you just approach it the same way,” Black said of the roster battle. “I don't I don't think you go into a camp any differently than you would. I think every year you should be trying to make the team, whether or not that's a going to happen this year or in the future. I think you just got to go in there and put your best foot forward. I think whenever you're ready, they'll give you the opportunity and you just need to make the most of it."
Cracking the scoresheet in his preseason debut, St. Martin, who’s still only 21, put the Panthers up 3-2 early in the third period when he went to the net and directed a cross-ice feed from Petrovic past Vasilevskiy’s glove and into the cage at 4:21.
With the secondary assist on the goal, Schwindt earned his second point of the game.
Soon after, Harkins touched twine a second time for the Lightning, cashing in on a rebound to make it 3-3 at 5:29. But on the ensuing faceoff, red-hot Cole Reinhardt forced a turnover and scored on a breakaway to put Florida back up 4-3 with his third preseason goal at 5:35.
After the Lightning pulled Vasilevskiy for the extra attacker late in regulation, Vilmanis made it 5-3 with an empty-net goal at 19:36.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 2-0-1 in the preseason.
"Everyone just kicked in,” Petrovic said. “We knew it was going to be a hard game. Lots, lots of their main guys in, the big boys. Yeah, I thought everyone battled hard right to the end and gave it their all. You do that, you give yourself a chance."
THEY SAID IT
“Happy with the young goaltender. You know he's in his third year now and he's starting to make those positive signs.” – Paul Maurice on Cooper Black
“Yeah, it was great. Obviously, it was very special. Something we won't forget as a family as well. Yeah, it was awesome.” – Kai Schwindt on playing a game with his brother Cole
“It’s one game, but it’s an everyday process.” Alexander Petrovic on his preparation
“It was pretty cool. I was watching him a little bit in warmups, just to kind of get my mind off the game, and it was pretty cool, you know, getting to see him. … It was pretty cool getting to watch him play and definitely try and take some things from his game and implement them into mine.” – Cooper Black on facing Andrei Vasilevskiy
CATS STATS
- The Panthers led 41-26 in hits.
- The Panthers led 18-6 in blocked shots.
- Cole Reinhardt and Kai Schwind each had a goal and an assist.
- Kirill Gerasimyuk stopped 11 of 12 shots in relief.
- Alexander Petrovic and Donovan Sebrango were each a +3.
- Sam Lafferty led Florida’s forwards with 18:36 of ice time.
WHAT’S NEXT?
One more to go before things get real!
Closing out their four-game preseason, the Panthers will welcome the Lightning to Amerant Bank Arena for a rematch on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
For tickets, click HERE.
