Panthers face daunting task after third straight loss in Game 3
Must win four in a row in second round against Lightning following latest defeat
Following a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Amalie Arena on Sunday, the Panthers trail 3-0 in the best-of-7 series. Their season will be over if they can't find a way to win Game 4 here on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS).
"We know we can do it," Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. "We have that kind of team. We have resilience. We showed it all year, so why not do it right now?"
The Panthers led the NHL with 29 comeback victories during the regular season and came from behind to win three more times during the first round against the Washington Capitals. So maybe there is some reason for them to believe they can become fifth team in NHL history to rally from 3-0 to win a best-of-7 series.
"We're a good team when our backs are against the wall and it looks bleak, so hopefully we can find some energy and some passion and some joy out of that," Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. "It's more frustration than joy right now."
The Lightning have a lot to do with that frustration. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions have been providing a master class on what it takes to win in this series. They again owned all the big moments in Game 3, getting key saves from goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, deflecting away shots that seemed destined for the back of the net and scoring timely goals.
After Sam Reinhart finally scored the Panthers' first power-play goal of the playoffs, ending a 0-for-25 drought to tie the score at 1-1 with 3:53 remaining in the first period, he had a chance to give them the lead when he drove to the right post less than two minutes later. But Vasilevskiy was there to kick out his left pad and keep the game tied.
Then, after Erik Cernak's goal gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead 2:54 into the second period, the Panthers had a chance to answer on the power play when Victor Hedman was called for interference at 6:37. But Vasilevskiy again came up big, making four saves during the man-advantage. Tampa Bay also blocked four shots during the penalty kill.
That didn't include Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh deflecting away Huberdeau's shot from the right circle, which was headed for the empty right side of the net, seven seconds after Hedman's penalty expired. That missed opportunity loomed larger when Steven Stamkos made it 3-1 at 10:23.
"They do a great job," Brunette said. "Obviously, they're Stanley Cup champions and the best team in hockey probably over the last five years. So they know what they're doing and they're willing themselves. They have more will and more desire than we do, and it shows probably if you watch the game shift after shift right now.
"So we have to find a way that we need to dial it in deeper and harder and want it more."
RELATED: [Complete Panthers vs. Lightning series coverage]
Outwilling the Lightning in four consecutive games won't be easy; they haven't lost consecutive playoff games since the start of the 2020 postseason, going 17-0 following a defeat.
But that is the challenge the Panthers face.
"You just want to go out there and play and put on a better performance," Reinhart said. "Another opportunity tomorrow night, and we're obviously going to need our best effort."
Florida hasn't found its best effort yet in this series. After leading the NHL by scoring 4.11 goals per game during the regular season, the Panthers have managed one goal in each game against the Lightning.
Anthony Duclair scored with 5:59 left in the first period of Game 1 to give Florida a 1-0 lead that held up until Corey Perry's tying goal with 3:38 left in the second period. The Panthers haven't led since and are becoming increasingly frustrated with each Vasilevskiy save and each shot blocked (19 in Game 3).
"We're playing probably the best goalie. He's making some saves," Huberdeau said. "We're having chances. We're not getting bounces too right now. Credit to them too, they're blocking every shot. They're a good team. You can see why they won two Stanley Cups."
The Panthers learned a lot of these same lessons when they lost to the Lightning in six games in the best-of-7 first round last season. After winning the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL leader in points during the regular season (122) and getting by Washington in six games for its first playoff series win since 1996, Florida believed it was better prepared this time around.
But through the first three games, all the Panthers have done is watch the Lightning find ways to win.
"They know how to win and they close doors down when they're in the lead," Brunette said. "We need to dictate a little bit more, and I think we have, but stay the pedal to the medal and get going quicker and earlier."
