2025 NHL Playoffs: Lightning vs Panthers - Round 1 Recap

Luke Pendlebury
May 7
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

The Florida Panthers decisively won their first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, clinching the series 4–1. This marked the second consecutive year the Panthers eliminated the Lightning in five games, underscoring their growing dominance in the "Battle of Florida."

Series Recap:

Game 1 (April 21, Sunrise): The Panthers secured a 3–2 victory, scoring twice in the third period to overcome a deficit and take an early series lead. ESPN.com
Game 2 (April 23, Sunrise): In a tightly contested match, Florida edged out Tampa Bay 3–2 in overtime, with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky making crucial saves to preserve the win. Wikipedia
Game 3 (April 25, Tampa): The Panthers extended their series lead with a 5–3 victory, showcasing their offensive depth and resilience on the road.
Game 4 (April 27, Tampa): The Lightning staved off elimination with a 6–3 win, capitalizing on power-play opportunities and strong performances from their top forwards.
Game 5 (April 29, Sunrise): Florida closed out the series with a commanding 6–1 victory. Eetu Luostarinen led the charge with a goal and three assists, while Bobrovsky continued his stellar play in net. Reuters

The Panthers' success was attributed to their balanced scoring, disciplined defense, and consistent goaltending. Their ability to win all three games in Tampa highlighted their poise under pressure and road resilience. Reuters

Defensive Mastery

Top Defensive Pairing: Florida's top defensive duo allowed only 2 goals against during 78 minutes and 33 seconds of 5-on-5 play throughout the series, showcasing their shutdown capabilities. NHL.com

Special Teams & Faceoffs

Penalty Kill Efficiency: Despite the Lightning having 20 power-play opportunities, the Panthers limited them to a 20% success rate, a significant drop from Tampa Bay's regular-season average of 28.6%. NHL.com

Lightning's Injury List

Julian Brisebois addressed the media afterward, providing insight into the challenges the team faced. Below is a list of injuries that significantly impacted the team's performance, particularly in the five-game series loss:

Player	Position	Injury	Details / Status
Oliver Bjorkstrand	Forward	Compartment syndrome (lower body)	Emergency surgery after swelling/bleeding on Apr 11. Missed series.
Victor Hedman	Defenseman	Broken foot	Sustained in Game 4. Wore walking boot post-series.
Brandon Hagel	Forward	Concussion	Injured by Aaron Ekblad in Game 4. Missed Game 5.
Nikita Kucherov	Forward	Left hand injury	Played through it. Injury undisclosed during series.
Anthony Cirelli	Forward	Grade 2 MCL sprain	Played through the injury.
Erik Cernak	Defenseman	Left knee contusion	Played limited minutes.
Nick Paul	Forward	Left wrist tear	Played through the injury.
Yanni Gourde	Forward	Broken finger	Played despite injury.
Luke Glendening	Forward	Right shoulder AC joint separation	Participated through the series with reduced physicality.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, the Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Second Round, where they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers' strong performance against the Lightning set a confident tone as they continued their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.