The Battle of Florida is finally over. The Florida Panthers closed the series on Monday night in game five against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In previous years, the Lightning always ended the Panthers’ season in the playoffs. However, in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Florida flipped the script in a dominant series win. At Last Word, we will comment on all the playoff first-round series at their conclusion. After trailing three games to none, the Lightning captured an emotional win on home ice in game four. Star defender Mikhail Sergachev returned to the lineup after suffering multiple leg injuries 80 days ago. While the playoffs seemed unlikely for the Lightning to start the season, the team battled through injuries and found a way. The sportsbooks favoured the Panthers to win this series, and so did we in our prediction. Let’s analyze some storylines from the series and recap the five contests.
After Game 5 of the Panthers vs Lightning, Did Two Disallowed Goals Change The Series?
Mid-way through the first period of game five, Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring following a net-front scramble. The Lightning jumped out to a one-goal lead, but after further review, the call on the ice was reversed for goaltender interference. Then, in the second period, the Lightning scored on a shot from the blue line. The only issue was Anthony Cirelli was in close contact with Sergei Bobrovsky. After another coach’s challenge by Paul Maurice, the goal was overturned, and the Panthers held their two-goal lead. Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper was unhappy with the officiating in game five. Who knows how the remainder of the series would go if the Lightning earned at least one of the two disallowed goals?
Big Post-game 5 Mystery: Steven Stamkos Finished in Tampa Bay?
Following the loss in game five, the ESPN broadcast focused the camera on Tampa Bay Captain Steven Stamkos. Stamkos stared off in the distance from the Lightning bench, taking it all in. Was game five his last in a Bolts’ uniform? After all, Julien BriseBois and Stamkos have yet to begin contract negotiations. Stamkos will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, and he is due to earn the big bucks after another 40-goal season. Regardless of his decision, Stamkos left his best games on the ice for the Bolts in round one. He was promoted back to the first line with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, scoring five goals and six points in five games. Keep in mind that Stamkos hit the open market in 2016 before signing an 8-year extension with the Lightning. Is it possible he will do the same this off-season in 2024?
The Birth of a Playoff Legend in Sunrise
While the glory days for the Lightning are over, they are just beginning for Panthers’ forward Carter Verhaeghe. The former third-round selection won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020. He then joined Florida as a free agent for the 2020-21 season. Verhaeghe brings a clutch gene to the Panthers. He ranks 11th amongst active players in playoff game-winning goals with eight. Verhaeghe also places third in overtime playoff goals amongst active players with five. In this series against the Lightning, Verhaeghe notched five goals and nine points in five games. He tilted the ice for the Panthers at even strength, controlling 61.54% of the expected goal share (61.54 xGF%). This possession percentage ranked first amongst all Florida players in round one. We expect Verhaeghe to continue his stellar play for the remainder of the playoffs.
Closing Thoughts from Round One of The Panthers and Lightning
With the conclusion of this series, the Panthers await the winner of the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs first-round matchup. Unfortunately, the Sam Bennett injury might end up hurting them down the road. For now, Anton Lundell has done a great job filling in. His two-way game was noticeable in game five. The time to capture the cup in Sunrise is now. For the Lightning, they have a line of tough decisions this off-season. Do they re-sign Stamkos or let him walk to free agency? What are their plans for Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba?
Prediction: Panthers in 6 games
Result: Panthers in 5 games
Raw Statistics via EvolvingHockey and QuantHockey
Main Photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
