The playoff series known as the “Battle of Florida” is living up to its intense reputation, even though the Florida Panthers are heading home with a solid 2-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In Game 2, played in front of a subdued crowd at Amalie Arena, defenseman Nate Schmidt once again scored the winning goal, netting it early in the first period. The Panthers maintained their lead until Sam Bennett added an empty-netter late in the game, securing a 2-0 victory. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was a standout performer, achieving a 19-save shutout.
While the Panthers gained a significant series advantage, they faced a potential setback. Their captain, Aleksander Barkov, was forced to leave the game midway through the third period after taking a hard hit from Tampa Bay`s Brandon Hagel. Hagel received a five-minute major penalty for the late contact, and Barkov did not return to the ice.
