Lightning Edge Panthers 3-2 in Shootout in NHL Preseason Battle

Lightning Rally to Force Overtime

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a shootout Monday in an NHL preseason matchup, rallying from a two-goal deficit before settling the game in the final round of the shootout. Florida took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Tampa Bay’s Benjamin Rautiainen scored on the power play late in regulation to force overtime. Neither team found the net during the extra five-minute period, sending the preseason contest to a shootout.

Mercuri Opens Scoring for Tampa Bay

The Lightning struck first at 8:50 of the opening period when Lucas Mercuri scored his first goal of the preseason. Nick Abruzzese and Jeffrey Viel recorded the assists as Tampa Bay grabbed a 1-0 advantage. The Panthers answered with just over two minutes remaining in the period. Sandis Vilmanis scored at 17:58, with Kai Schwindt assisting on the play, sending the teams into the first intermission tied 1-1.

Panthers Take the Lead in Second

Florida moved ahead early in the second period when Matvei Shuravin scored at the 2:03 mark. Gracyn Sawchyn and Mikulas Hovorka collected assists as the Panthers took a 2-1 lead. The Panthers carried that advantage into the third period, putting Tampa Bay in position to mount a late comeback.

Rautiainen’s Power-Play Goal Forces Overtime

The Lightning found their equalizer at 12:58 of the third period when Benjamin Rautiainen scored on the power play. Gage Goncalves and Conor Geekie assisted on the goal, which pulled Tampa Bay even at 2-2 and ultimately forced overtime. Neither team scored during the extra period, making a shootout necessary to determine the winner.

Lightning Win the Shootout

Florida’s Sandis Vilmanis opened the shootout by scoring on a wrist shot, giving the Panthers the early advantage. Tampa Bay answered when Pontus Holmberg converted a backhand attempt. Gracyn Sawchyn was then stopped by Lightning goaltender Akira Schmid, while Maxim Groshev was denied by Panthers goaltender Dennis Hildeby.

After Uvis Balinskis failed to convert for Florida, Rautiainen stepped up for Tampa Bay and scored on a wrist shot to give the Lightning the shootout victory. The 3-2 result gave Tampa Bay the preseason win after the Lightning erased Florida’s 2-1 lead in the third period and held the Panthers scoreless through overtime.