SUNRISE — The Lightning hit the ice for Game 3 of their playoff series against the Panthers Saturday, eager to turn things around after being down two games. They faced the challenge without their powerful forward Brandon Hagel, who typically scored 90 points and fueled the team’s energy.
Before the game, Coach Jon Cooper called for a “circle-the-wagons” mindset, encouraging players to rise to the occasion after struggling offensively, netting only two goals in the first two games.
That pivotal player turned out to be Nick Paul, a forward familiar with performing under playoff pressure.
Paul’s goal with just over six minutes left in the second period gave the Lightning their first lead of the series. This opportunity allowed them to play defensively as the Panthers had in the prior games.
The Lightning’s triumphant 5-1 victory at Amerant Bank Arena put them back in the series, now trailing two games to one.
“Just contributions from everyone,” said Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh. “We’ve shown that all year when facing adversity. Losing Hagel was tough, but everyone stepped up. We trusted our game plan, executed, and it paid off.”
Lightning fans remember Paul’s spectacular Game 7 against the Maple Leafs last playoffs, where he netted both goals in a series-clinching 2-1 win.
This season, Paul has been flexible, switching between center and wing as needed while emerging as a key leader in the locker room, similar to Hagel.
During Saturday’s game, Ryan McDonagh kept the Lightning pressing by disrupting a Florida clearing attempt, feeding Paul at the red line. Paul then passed to Gage Goncalves along the right wall before speeding to the net. Goncalves returned the puck to Paul, who took a snapshot from the right circle and scored, slipping it past defenseman Aaron Ekblad’s attempt to poke it away and into the goal.
Hagel wasn’t the only absence; he was serving a one-game suspension after a hit that injured Florida’s Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. This led the Lightning to employ 11 forwards and 7 defensemen.
A penalty for the Lightning was overridden at the second-period buzzer when Anthony Cirelli was called for roughing. However, they opened the third by scoring right after a 4-on-4 play, with Jake Guentzel notching his third goal of the series just 21 seconds into the new period.
Despite being the Panthers’ target throughout the series, Nikita Kucherov skillfully maneuvered around two defenders behind the net before sending a backhanded pass to Guentzel, extending the lead to 3-1.
A late goal from fourth-line center Luke Glendening sent Panther fans heading for the exits with 5:41 left on the clock.
Cirelli rounded off the score with an empty-net goal five minutes before the end. In an unrelated moment, Matthew Tkachuk delivered a severe hit on Guentzel that resulted in a five-minute major for interference, reminiscent of the penalty that led to Hagel’s suspension.
The Lightning’s start was once again rocky. For the third consecutive game, they let the opponent score first, zoning out on defense. During 5-on-5 play, the Panthers racked up 13 scoring chances compared to just three for the Lightning. Credit goes to Tampa Bay’s goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy for keeping them in the game early.
Tkachuk’s early goal—his third this series—was a troubling sign. The Lightning struggled against Florida’s aggressive forecheck, with Sam Bennett seizing the puck and charging toward the net. His maneuver around Paul led to Tkachuk tapping in a near-perfect pass for an easy score on Vasilevskiy.
The Lightning managed to equalize with Brayden Point’s goal just before the first intermission, built on strong forechecking and slick passes from Guentzel and Kucherov.
Kucherov expertly maneuvered around Aleksander Barkov and pushed the puck to Guentzel, who threaded it through traffic for Point to execute a well-timed deflection past Bobrovsky.
Despite Paul’s goal occurring moments after a Lightning power play ended, the team struggled on the man advantage yet again, finishing 0-for-5 in the game and 1-for-13 in the series.
However, Tampa Bay’s penalty kill played a crucial role, remaining perfect since Game 1, now boasting a 7-for-7 streak including a flawless Game 3.
Conclusion
In a crucial Game 3, the Lightning showcased resilience and teamwork, overcoming early challenges to secure a dominating win. With more players stepping up, it looks like they are ready to battle back in this series.
FAQs
1. How did the Lightning perform in Game 3?
They won decisively, 5-1, against the Panthers.
2. Who was the standout player in Game 3?
Nick Paul was crucial, scoring the Lightning’s first lead of the series.
3. What is the status of Brandon Hagel?
He is serving a one-game suspension for a previous match incident.
