Despite having 4 power play opportunities, the Lightning scored two even-strength goals and an empty net goal, which included Jack Finley’s first NHL goal.
Photo courtesy NHL
By Irena Mesa
To say the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers hate each other is a wild understatement of the Shakespearean level feud between the clubs.
After two preseason games between them totaled 114 penalties, 508 penalty minutes, two suspensions, and $125,000 in fines, all eyes were on Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise for the game Saturday.
Things were surprisingly civil between the teams, until the eight minute mark of the first period. Sam Bennett elbowed Nikita Kucherov, giving the Lightning their first of four power plays of the night. While the extra man didn’t help the Lightning put a goal on the board, Emil Lilleberg netted his second goal of the season to give the Lightning and early 1-0 lead.
Aside from a few brief skirmishes that happened after the whistle the period was quiet, but tight in regards to scoring chances. Going into the second, the Lightning had outshot the Panthers 10-6.
Three minutes into the second period, Charle-Edouard D’Astous cross checked A.J. Grier and gave the Panthers a turn on the power play. The Lightning held them off, but they continued to take untimely penalties.
Five minutes later, Yanni Gourde gave another cross check to A.J. Grier, but Luke Kunin fought back and earned himself trip to the box for roughing. The score sheet remained even after the penalties were served, but then Zemgus Girgensons was penalized for charging, and the Panthers capitalized, tying it up at one goal each.
The Lightning weren’t out of the woods yet, as Lilliberg took another penalty and put the team on the penalty kill once again. It was a big swing in momentum for the Panthers, but the Lightning held it down and kept the score even after 40 minutes.
The special teams were still an issue for the Lightning in the third, only putting one shot on net through two early power plays. Scoring even strength goals wasn’t an issue, as Jack Finley netted his first NHL goal that gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead.
Things got heated after a high sticking on Moser was missed, and Bennett was sent to the box for roughing. The Lightning then spent most of those two minutes in their own zone and closed out the night 0-4 on the power play.
The killed penalty gave some energy to the Panthers’ bench, putting lots of pressure on the Lightning late in the third, but Girgensons scored an empty netter and put the game away 3-1 for the Lightning.
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Written by: Irena Mesa on December 4, 2025.
Last revised by: Julia Ferrara
