PanthersLightningG4P

(1A) Panthers at (3A) Lightning
7 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS
Tampa Bay leads best-of-7 series 3-0

The Tampa Bay Lightning can take the next step in their quest to win the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive season by defeating the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Amalie Arena on Monday.
The Lightning would complete a series sweep with a victory and reach the Eastern Conference Final/Stanley Cup Semifinals for the sixth time in eight seasons. It would be Tampa Bay's 10th straight playoff series win since the start of the 2020 postseason. Only the New York Islanders (19, 1980-84) and the Montreal Canadiens (13, 1976-1980) have won more consecutive NHL playoff series.
Teams that take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-7 Stanley Cup Playoff series are 197-4 (.980), including 1-0 in the first round this season. But the Lightning know it won't be easy to finish the Panthers, who won the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the best record in the NHL.
"These guys have their backs against the wall," Lightning forward Steven Stamkos said. "We've had this opportunity before and it's the hardest one to get. We understand that challenge, but we'll be ready. We have an opportunity to do it in front of our home fans and feed off that. We know they're going to give us their best effort. We have to match that and then some."
The Panthers hope to rebound from a 5-1 loss in Game 3 on Sunday with a victory, which would push the series to Game 5 at home Wednesday.
"Right now we've got to give everything we have," Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. "Down 3-0, it's a good team. Who knows? It's a back-to-back, so we can show up [Monday] and win a game and it's a different series."
Here are three keys for Game 4:

1. Will over skill

Panthers coach Andrew Brunette acknowledged after Game 3 that the Lightning, "have more will and more desire than we do." Florida needs to change that Monday and win more battles and get to loose pucks in front of the net.
The Panthers' offensive skill carried them throughout the regular season when they led the NHL by scoring 4.11 goals per game. But they've been limited to one goal in each game against the Lightning.
"We just have to find a way to get a little more will and more desperation in our game," Brunette said. "They're a little bit more desperate team right now."

2. Get the lead

The Lightning have scored the first goal each of the past two games. The Panthers haven't led since the second period of Game 1.
Playing from ahead has helped the Lightning remain patient within their defensive structure, sit back and block shots (59 in the first three games), and not feed the Panthers' transition game with turnovers.
If Tampa Bay scores first again in Game 4, Florida will face another uphill climb.
"It's tough in the playoffs when you're chasing a game," Lightning forward Corey Perry said. "You get out of your structure. You get out of everything. We've found a way to play with the lead and we're comfortable doing that. It's not always going to be that way, but it's nice having the lead for sure."

3. Top guns

With forward Brayden Point out because of a lower-body injury, the Lightning have gotten big-time play from elsewhere in their lineup. Forward Nikita Kucherov has seven points (two goals, five assists) in the series, including a goal and three assists in Game 3. Perry (three goals, one assist) and Stamkos (two goals, two assists) each has four points.
Florida needs its big players to respond. Huberdeau has two points in the series (two assists) and five points (one goal, four assists) in nine playoff games after tying for second in the NHL with 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) during the regular season. Forwards Aleksander Barkov and Claude Giroux each has one assist in the series.

Panthers projected lineup
Lightning projected lineup
Status report

Florida did not hold a morning skate. ... Thornton will play his first games of these playoffs. He and Lundell replace forwards Lomberg and Duclair. ... Tampa Bay held an optional morning skate.