Panthers score twice in 11 seconds, beat Lightning 4-2 to take 3-1 series lead

By Canadian Press on April 28, 2025.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones scored third-period goals 11 seconds apart and the Florida Panthers stormed from behind to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoff series.

Anton Lundell also scored and Carter Verhaeghe added an empty-netter. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 shots.

The Panthers had managed just three shots on goal in the third before Ekblad tied it on a putback with 3:47 remaining. Jones found the back of the net shortly after as the Panthers went ahead 3-2.

Florida will have a chance to clinch the series on Wednesday night in Tampa.

Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel left the game in the second period after taking a high hit from Ekblad, who made contact with the winger’s chin area and sent him onto his back. Hagel went straight to the locker room. No penalty was called.

Mitchell Chaffee and Erik Cernak scored 11 seconds apart in the second period to put the Lightning up 2-1. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Alanis Thames, The Associated Press

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