Florida Panthers Eliminate Tampa Bay Lightning in Five-Game Series

The Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games during the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, marking the second consecutive year the Panthers have eliminated their cross-state rivals early. Florida's victory was powered by a strong defensive effort, effective forechecking, stellar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky, and timely scoring from players like Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Sam Bennett. The Lightning, despite their remaining top-tier talent, showed significant declines in depth and defensive play, signaling a likely end to their run as perennial Stanley Cup contenders. Tampa Bay opened Game 5 with early momentum, but Florida quickly responded and pulled away in the third period to secure a 6-3 win. The Panthers now advance to the second round, continuing their rise as a dominant force in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning, meanwhile, face questions about their future competitiveness as their championship window appears to be closing.