Nikita Kucherov netted a goal before being ejected for kneeing Matthew Tkachuk, propelling the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers in a spirited matchup on Monday evening. Jake Guentzel and Mitchell Chaffee also found the back of the net for Tampa Bay, securing their fifth win in six games. Brandon Hagel sealed the win with an empty-net goal, while Anthony Cirelli and Victor Hedman contributed two assists each.
Jonas Johansson stood tall in the Lightning’s net, making 36 saves to record his first shutout of the season and the fourth of his career. Florida, who had triumphed in their previous four outings, including a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay the day prior, were left reeling by the loss.
The game took a contentious turn when Tkachuk had to be assisted off the ice and to the locker room following a collision with Kucherov’s knee to his right leg late in the first period. Kucherov received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the incident. Tkachuk, displaying resilience, returned to the ice a few minutes into the second frame.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves for the Panthers, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Lightning’s offensive onslaught.
Key plays included Hagel’s short-handed goal with 5:42 remaining in the game. Notably, the Lightning had conceded two short-handed goals in the previous game against the Panthers. Chaffee’s goal in the first period further extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-0, marking the team’s ninth power-play goal in December and their 26th of the season.
Despite a slow start, the Panthers failed to capitalize on their power-play opportunities, going 0 for 4 in that department. They showed improved play in the second period but were unable to convert their offensive chances into goals.
A notable aspect of the game was the high number of penalties, with the Lightning accumulating nine penalties totaling 37 minutes, while the Panthers were called for nine penalties amounting to 26 minutes.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to resume action on Saturday following the league’s holiday break. The Panthers will host the Montreal Canadiens, while the Lightning will welcome the New York Rangers to their home ice.
