The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers roared into the 2025 postseason with a statement, overpowering the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
The spotlight belonged to Matthew Tkachuk, who returned to action for the first time in over two months due to a lower-body injury. The Panthers star didn’t miss a beat, tallying two power-play goals and an assist in a dominant second-period performance that helped Florida seize control of the series opener.
“It’s just great to be back,” said Tkachuk postgame. “You dream about moments like these in the playoffs. It’s what we play for.”
Tkachuk’s offensive outburst highlighted a complete team performance from the Panthers, who also received two goals from defenseman Nate Schmidt — one of them on the power play — and one apiece from Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart, both of whom added an assist. Florida converted on three of four power-play opportunities, punishing a Tampa Bay squad that struggled to stay disciplined.
The game opened with energy and edge, as Bennett gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead just 3:44 into the first period by batting a rebound out of mid-air. Tampa Bay briefly pulled even when Jake Guentzel struck on the power play at 12:21, but Reinhart’s deflection of a Dmitry Kulikov shot with 45 seconds left in the period put Florida back in front for good.
The floodgates opened early in the second. Schmidt pounced on a rebound to make it 3-1, and after Tampa Bay’s failed challenge for goalie interference, Tkachuk struck twice in a 14-second span — the second giving Florida a commanding 5-1 advantage by the midpoint of the period.
Brayden Point offered a momentary answer for the Lightning, scoring at 13:04 to cut the deficit to 5-2, but Tampa Bay couldn’t mount a comeback. Tkachuk assisted on Schmidt’s second goal early in the third, another power-play tally that sealed the win.
Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky faced light pressure, needing only 20 saves for the victory. On the opposite end, Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy endured a tough night, stopping just 10 of 16 shots before being pulled.
Tampa Bay suffered a further setback with the unexpected departure of center Anthony Cirelli, who left the game midway through the second period. No immediate update was provided on the 27-year-old’s status.
The Panthers now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 2 set for Thursday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
As the Panthers begin their title defense, Game 1 made one thing clear: with Tkachuk back in the lineup and the power play firing on all cylinders, Florida remains a force to be reckoned with.
