playoffs: 2020-21 | CDFR | (C2) Florida Panthers vs. (C3) Tampa Bay Lightning

(C2) Florida Panthers vs. (C3) Tampa Bay Lightning

REGULAR SEASON RECORDS:

Panthers: 37-14-5, 79 points

Lightning: 36-17-3, 75 points

SEASON SERIES:

FLA 5-2-1; TBL 3-5-0

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[td]GAME BREAKERS:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: Forward Jonathan Huberdeau, the Panthers' most dynamic skater, led them with 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists), including 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 13 games since April 13. He scored seven points (three goals, four assists) against the Lightning this season. He's third in Panthers history and first among active Florida players with 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 38 games against Tampa Bay.[/td]

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[td]Lightning: Brayden Point led Tampa Bay with 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists). The forward scored six points (four goals, two assists) against the Panthers and has scored 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 21 games against them. Kucherov likely would be the Lightning game breaker, but because he hasn't played this season, it's hard to determine the impact he could have on the series.[/td]

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[td]GOALTENDING:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: They will carry three goalies, and the leash could be short for expected starter Sergei Bobrovsky, who was 19-8-2 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 31 games (30 starts). Bobrovsky was passed on the depth chart at times by Chris Driedger, who was 14-6-3 with three shutouts, a 2.07 GAA and .927 save percentage in 23 starts. Rookie Spencer Knight was 4-0-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .919 save percentage in four games (three starts).[/td]

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[td]Lightning: There are no questions about the starting goalie. It's Andrei Vasilevskiy, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2018-19, voted as the best goalie in the NHL. He could win it again this season. Vasilevskiy had 31 wins and five shutouts in 42 starts and was never pulled from a game this season. He had a 2.21 GAA and .925 save percentage. His backup is Curtis McElhinney, who was 4-6-2 with a 3.09 GAA and .875 save percentage in 12 starts.[/td]

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[td]X FACTORS:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: Sam Bennett has been one of the Panthers' best players since they acquired the forward in a trade with the Calgary Flames on April 12. Bennett set a Panthers record for most points in his first 10 games, scoring 15 (six goals, nine assists) with a plus-12 rating, breaking the mark held by Pavel Bure, who scored 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in his first 10 games with Florida in 1998-99. Bennett ened the regular season with a six-game point streak (three goals, seven assists). [/td]

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[td]Lightning: Mikhail Sergachev has been an under-the-radar, puck-moving defenseman playing major minutes, and his role grows bigger if Hedman and McDonagh aren't at full strength. Sergachev scored 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) playing all 56 games this season. He averaged 21:58 of ice time per game, second on the Lightning behind Hedman's 25:03.[/td]

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[td]WILL WIN IF:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: Their goaltending holds up with zero to minimal changes. They will need to get on top of the Lightning early with their forecheck to generate chances off the rush. They will also need to limit Kucherov and Stamkos, provided they are in the lineup, because they will be coming in with fresh legs.[/td]

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[td]Lightning: Their defense holds up, and Kucherov and Stamkos can be impact players right away. They need to limit Florida's high-powered attack too; the Panthers were the only team to average more than three goals per game against the Lightning this season (3.88).[/td]

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More: https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-tampa-bay-lightning-series-preview/c-324642696?tid=287339198