This Battle of Florida goes to Lightning

Dan Herrejon
Dec 27, 2025
4 min read

The most recent match between one of the fastest growing rivalries in the NHL is on tap. The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers isn't just the an interstate rivalry. Not only are these the two teams that call the state of Florida home but these two also represent four of the last six Stanley Cup winners. Tonight, the battle rages on.

In the first period, the Lightning didn't look rusty at all despite not having played since last Monday. They were buzzing in the Panthers zone. Just after the three minute mark, Yanni Gourde and Sam Bennett each got called for four minutes of roughing penalties. Zemgus Girgensons was also called for a cross check penalty that gave the Panthers a power play opportunity.

Not only did Florida not score with the extra man, they couldn't even muster a shot. After killing that penalty, the Lightning must have became a bit complacent. Sloppy play in front of their goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy led to a goal by Eetu Luostarinen giving Florida the one goal lead.

As the initial period rolled on, the intensity seemed to grow. Clearly, these two teams really have a good hate built up for each other. Recent defensive call up, Steve Santini taking the place of Ryan McDonagh is called for a cross check. Again, the Lightning penalty kill steps up. In fact, Jake Guentzel beats everyone else on the ice to a puck lifted into Florida's zone by Anthony Cirelli. The streaking Guentzel snaps a shot past Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to tie the game at one.

Once the game was tied, it began to take a postseason feel to the match. While still killing the same penalty, Cirelli found himself closing in on Bobrovsky with a Panther draped over him. Cirelli drew a holding penalty but the puck went in the net. Almost immediately, the referees went to their headsets. Sure enough, the situation room in Toronto reversed the goal call. Back to the 1- 1 game.

Just when it looked like the teams would head to the first intermission tied at one, the Gourde line went to work. With seven seconds remaining in the period, Pontus Holmberg beats Bobrovsky to give the Bolts a 2 - 1 lead as the teams headed to their locker rooms.

No Let Up Needed Now

As we prepare for 2026 and the second half of the NHL season, the focus for all teams will be the two points for each win. No more moral victories. Wins are a must. Since wins are a must, you couldn't have two better goalies than Vasilevskiy and Bobrovsy.

A little after the two minute mark of the second period, Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point found themselves on a 2 on 1 breakaway. Kucherov slipped the puck in Bobrovsky's five hole to give the Lightning a 3 - 1 lead.

With a two goal lead, the Lightning are taking it to the Panthers who appear lost. The Bolts, however, can't get overly confident. There is still more than half the game to play.

Sure enough, the Panthers working on yet another power play, score the penultimate goal. Brad Marchand tips in a shot/pass from Sam Bennett to make it a 3 - 2 game with half the game remaining.

The rest of the second period had a lot of chippiness as 28 minutes of penalties were called on both teams. None of these led to any goals. So, the period ended with the Lightning holding on to the slim one goal lead.

The Battle for Two Points

Like most of the recent games between these two teams, this game had a playoff feel. Despite the penalties, neither team wanted to cough up the puck to give an easy goal to the other team.

Less than two minutes into the final regulation period, the Lightning had to kill off a double minor penalty. Four minutes seemed like an eternity but the Panthers didn't score. After the nine minute mark of the period, another slew of penalties were called. In a five minute span, 16 penalties were called. During the alternate power plays, neither team scored.

With three minutes left in the game, the Panthers had 1 power play chances to six for the Lightning. Still, the penalty kill for the Lightning stood tall. Every time the Panthers seemed on the precipice of scoring, Vasilevskiy made heroic save after heroic save.

when Florida pulled Bobrovsky with about 2:30 left in the game, the Lightning were just trying to escape with the win. As time was winding down and Bobrovsky on the bench, Kucherov backhanded the puck and found the empty net to make it 4 - 2 with a little over a minute to go.

Three Stars

Andrei Vasilevskiy - Saved 23 of 25 shots but really stepped up on the penalty kill as Florida was 1 for 9 with the extra man.
Nikita Kucherov - Two goals and played a brand f physical game we don't usually see from him.
Lightning Penalty Killers - Killed 8 of the 9 penalties including a double minor early in the third. They also scored a short handed goal.