TAMPA, Fla. – We should have known when the Panthers’ Nate Schmidt scored at 4:15 of the opening period. After all, heading into Thursday evening’s Game 2, and dating to the second round in 2022, the team that had scored first between the Lightning and Panthers in the playoffs had won nine straight.
Make it 10.
The Lightning are in a size-two hole following a 2-0 loss to their state rival at Amalie Arena. Game 3 is Saturday (1 p.m.) in Sunrise.
“We had enough chances,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper, whose team went 0-for-5 on the powerplay. “Most nights they go in, tonight they didn’t.”
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No, they didn’t. The team that led the league in scoring (3.56 goals per game) and was second in goal differential (plus-75) was blanked by ‘Bob.’ That would be familiar for Sergei Bobrovsky, who once again had ample help in front of him with the 36-year-old goalie taking care of the rest.
“They are really good at defending, so I think for the most part it is tight checking out there,” said Brayden Point. “If anything, just maybe try to put more pucks to the net on ‘Bob.’”
They did not get many through on their five-man advantage opportunities. How about two shots on goal in 9:13 of powerplay time? That was the tally on Thursday. The Bolts went 1-for-4 with four shots in Game 1. It adds up to 1-for-9 with six shots on goal through two games. That is no way to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champs.
“Our penalty kill in back-to-back games has been fantastic,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who had to do without the services of star forward Alexander Barkov for game’s final 10 minutes after taking a hit from Brandon Hagel, who was assessed an extremely rare five-minute major for interference. “That is a big part of our identity. I like things that we did in our own zone against a dynamic offensive team.”
The attack has not been very dynamic for the Bolts, who had only three of 16 shot attempts in the third period get through to Bobrovsky. They had 19 shots on goal in the game. Blocked shots? The Panthers had 20.
“It’s tough, but these are two good teams,” said Cooper. “Teams check. That’s what happens. It’s the playoffs.”
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