(Tampa) Matthew Tkachuk scored two goals and the Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday night to move within one victory of the next round.
Tkachuk scored the first goal of the game and sealed the outcome in an empty net, after the Lightning removed Andrei Vasilevskiy in favor of a sixth skater.
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The Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the series and are just one win away from achieving their second sweep in franchise history.
They achieved the feat against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final last year.
The Lightning will try to extend the series on Saturday in Tampa.
“We’re playing good hockey and we’re happy with how the series is going,” Tkachuk said.
“Everyone says it’s the fourth hardest win to get. We will have to be ready from the start on Saturday. »
Steven Lorentz and Brandon Montour both had a goal and an assist while Sam Reinhart added a goal for the Panthers. Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe finished the match with two assists each.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 pucks for Paul Maurice’s men, who finished second in the East this season.
PHOTO CHRIS O’MEARA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman
Steven Stamkos, Nicholas Paul and Tyler Motte responded for the Lightning. Vasilevskiy surrendered four times in 30 shots.
The Panthers scored the first goal of the game for the third time in the series, midway through the first period. They kept the pressure on in enemy territory and Anton Lundell rounded the net before putting the puck in front to Tkachuk, who beat Vasilevskiy with a sharp shot.
The Lightning, however, responded with two at the start of the middle period. A few seconds after the end of a power play, Stamkos skillfully redirected a pass shot from Victor Hedman. A little over two minutes later, Motte kept the disc and took advantage of the traffic in front of Bobrovsky to surprise him in the top corner.
The Panthers also added two goals to their total before returning to the locker room. Reinhaty accepted a pass from Vladimir Tarasenko and deceived Vasilevskiy from the left circle. Montour gave his team the lead again when his point shot moved the strings.
Lorentz thought he had dealt the home team a big blow when his puck flew past the Lightning goaltender, but Paul gave fans hope by hitting the target following a feed from Anthony Duclair.
Tkachuk ended the debate with only 32 seconds remaining.
Kyle Okposo of the Panthers, acquired from Buffalo in March, recorded an assist in his first playoff game since 2016.
“It’s a really special feeling,” said the 36-year-old veteran.