Florida Panthers fall to Tampa Bay Lightning in Overtime, 2-1.

The Lightning needed just over three periods to put the Panthers away in a hard fought hockey match in Sunrise.  Steven Stamkos netted the game winner with his 12th goal of the season with assists by Marc-Andre Bergeron and Martin St. Louis.  Mathieu Garon saved 24 of a possible 25 shots against the Panthers.

First Period:

The game opened with Brian Campbell taking a hard one-timer from the point for the Panthers.  Florida would not muster another shot on goal until there was 8 minutes remaining in the first period.  The two teams skated back and forth, never really getting anything going.  Erik Gudbranson and Jack Skille both layed a couple of good hits in the Tampa Bay zone, with Dmitry Kulikov negating Stamkos hard skating in the first.

As the Panthers were trying to clear, St. Louis stole the puck and surprised Jose Theodore with a hard shot on net which was nevertheless steered aside.  Jason Garrison unleashed the howitzer just wide with seven minutes gone, and Michal Repik outskated two Bolts for the puck in the offensive zone, but the Cats could not get anything set up. 

Erik Brewer flipped the puck out of play and was called for a delay of game penalty.  The Cats had Tomas Fleischmann set up, but he couldn't lay the tape to the puck on a wide open net.  The Panthers managed two shots on goal with the man advantage.

Jack Skille and Shawn Matthias were looking pretty good, setting up Marco Sturm on a shot that he barely missed, wide right.  Brett Clark was called for high sticking Michal Repik with three minutes to go in the frame, but the Cats again couldn't get anything going. 

St. Louis broke in on Theodore with about a minute left in the period, but Stephen Weiss locked him down, not allowing a shot on goal.

The Lightning didn't manage a shot on goal for the last ten minutes of the first period, and it ended with the Lightning holding a seven to five shot advantage.

Second Period:

Soon after the period started, the lightning were trying to clear the puck out of their zone, but it was intercepted by Mike Weaver.  Weaver unleashed a slapshot which was easily saved by Garon. 

Kulikov was upended in the Panthers zone, but got up ok.  Soon after, Matthias got a breakaway opportunity on Garon, but the shot was turned aside.  Garon showed some trouble early with rebound control, trouble that the cats could have exploited with better positioning.

Back in the Panthers zone, Teddy Purcell controlled a rebound and almost put it past Theodore if not for the netminder literally using his head to turn the shot away.

The second period was a lot more exciting than the first was, punctuated by flurries of activity on both sides of the ice. 

Fleischmann scored his 10th of the season with an assist by Weiss at the 12:38 mark. 

Just before the end of the period, Skille an odd man rush, feeding Mike Santorelli with a pass that the winger couldn't quite handle.  After a quick trip up the ice, Skille again led a rush, this time four-on-two.  He fed Campbell the puck for a one-time that Garon gloved for the save.

Both teams got 13 shots on goal during the period.

Third Period:

Fleischmann fed Kulikov with a one-timer that barely missed.  Sturm cleared the puck out of the zone, and Kris Versteeg collected it and took it all the way into the Tampa Bay zone, leaving it on a drop pass for Weiss who shot it just wide.

Sean Bergenheim was about to lead an odd man rush when Clark was called for high sticking.  The resultant power play was very disappointing, as the Cats spent more time collecting themselves in their own zone and never managed to get set up.  Just after the power play ended, Versteeg broke in and threw the puck on the net, just barely missing.

On the return trip back up the ice, Vincent Lecavalier scored his 10th goal of the season on his own rebound with an assist from St. Louis.

Repik was called for interference and the Bolts took the ice for the power play, but Stamkos was called for another interference penalty just 15 seconds into the man advantage.  The teams would go 4-on-4.

Weiss fed Kulikov on a one-timer that Garon easily saved, followed by a Skille breakout in which Sturm found himself in front of the net, just missing on a wrister.

The Bolts outshot the Cats 8 to 6 in the third.

Overtime:

Lecavalier put a shot right between Theodore's legs just inches away from scoriing a minute into the extra frame.  Kulikov was assessed a two minute minor penalty for interference, putting the Cats at a 4-3 disadvantage. 

After turning a shot away, defensemen Garrison and Weaver enjoyed an odd man rush, but couldn't get the shot off.

Steven Stamkos put the game winner in the net with his 12th goal of the season with 2:29 gone in the overtime period.

Notes:

Jack Skille and Shawn Matthias were both skating lights out.  Even though they did not figure into the scoring tonight, thier work ethic is contagious.

Michal Repik and Evgeny Dadonov are both fast and dangerous skaters.

Mike Santorelli was strong on the puck at times, but also missed a few golden opportunities when the puck was too hot for him.

Marco Sturm was all over the ice tonight, and is starting to show some creativity. 

Even though he took the loss, Jose Theodore was excellent for the Cats in goal, turning away 29 of 31 shots.

Versteeg did not score tonight, but he was just everwhere, creating chances, breaking up opponent chances in the defensive zone, and showing off his ridiculous stick handling skills.

The Panthers try again tomorrow in St. Pete Times Forum, as Jacob Markstrom takes on Dwayne Roloson.

Panthers and Lightning are tied at one after three

The Cats and the Bolts will play a five minute sudden death overtime to see if the game can be decided without a shootout.

The Lightning controlled most of the third period, including Vincent LeCavalier’s 10th goal of the season.

Top line strikes again as the Panthers hold a 1-0 lead after two

The second period was marked by a flurry of activity on both ends of the ice, as both teams managed 13 shots on goal during the frame.

Shawn Matthias was driven, fighting for loose pucks and skating just a little bit faster than anyone on the Bolts.

Jose Theodore made two great saves, the second one with his head off of the stick of Teddy Purcell.

The Cats got on the board when Stephen Weiss blocked a shot and skated up the left side of the ice with Tomas Fleischmann on his right, feeding Flash with a pass on the tape which he put past a sprawling Mathieu Garon to put the Panthers up, 1-0.

Jack Skille led two odd man rushes in just under a minute near the end of the period, but the Cats could not add to their lead.

Tune in to see if the Bolts can come back to tie it up or if the Cats can put the Lightning away in what promises to be an exciting third period.

Panthers, Lightning Post Matching Goose Eggs After One

Both teams came out tentative, kind of just feeling each other out. Florida managed only one shot on goal during the first 10 minutes of the period, looking mostly sluggish and unimpressive. Tampa Bay did not have any shots after the 10 minute mark. For the first period, Florida totalled five shots and the Lightning managed seven.

Twice Florida went on the power play against the Bolts, but could not solve goaltender Mathieu Garon.

Tampa Bay is winning the battle of the hits, collecting 12 against only four for Florida. The Panthers are not traditionally big hitters this season, instead going for the puck when a hit would be easier.

The first line looks a little tired, but Jack Skille, Michal Repik and Evgeny Dadonov are all really charging the puck tonight. Tune in to what should be a more exciting second period.

Dmitry Kulikov to skate tonight against Lightning

Injury Update

Forwards Matt Bradley, Scottie Upshall and Mikael Samuelsson are all listed as out for tonight’s home matchup. Their spots on the roster are currently filled by Michal Repik, Evgeny Dadonov, and Tim Kennedy.

Forward Marcel Goc has missed the last four games with a head injury and is listed day-to-day. Goc and goalie Scott Clemmensen are listed as doubtful against Tampa Bay. Clemmensen’s spot on the roster is currently being held by Jacob Markstrom.

Dmitry Kulikov is listed as questionable after being held out of the game versus the New York Rangers with a groin injury, but has said that he will play tonight against the Lightning.

Tomas Fleischmann took an elbow to the head in Wednesday night’s win against the New York Rangers. He logged over seven minutes of ice time after the hit was levelled, and was looked at by the team doctor after leaving the ice. He is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup.

Game 22 Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first game of a back-to-back home-and-home series.