Panthers Dominate Lightning in Preseason Finale Amidst Penalty Mayhem
Panthers Dominate Lightning in Preseason Finale Amidst Penalty Mayhem
Sunrise, FL – The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up their preseason on Saturday night in a game that was as much about the scoreboard as it was about the chaos on the ice. In a rematch of their previous encounter, which saw a staggering 186 penalty minutes, Saturday’s showdown at the FLA Live Arena escalated to new heights, with both teams combining for an eye-popping 274 penalty minutes.
The first period alone took a staggering 53 minutes to complete, marred by rough play and ejections. The Lightning’s Scott Sabourin, one of several players called up from the AHL just hours before the game, was among the first to be shown the door. His night ended early after a reckless cross-check to the face of Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad just 2:18 into the game. Following the incident, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice provided no immediate update on Ekblad, stating he would be reevaluated on Sunday.
Despite the tumultuous start, the Panthers remained undeterred in their pursuit of victory. While the Lightning players were busy accumulating penalties, Florida capitalized on their opportunities, scoring three goals in the first period. Mackie Samoskevich and Evan Rodrigues found the net on power plays, while Jack Studnicka added an even-strength goal, sending the Cats into the first intermission with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second period continued the trend of penalties and power plays, with the Lightning players frequently finding themselves in the penalty box. Jeff Petry joined the scoring frenzy, and both Samoskevich and Rodrigues netted their second goals of the night, extending Florida’s lead to 6-0.
Rodrigues completed his hat trick in the third period, once again taking advantage of a power play. However, Samoskevich’s chance for a hat trick was cut short when he was one of four players ejected just four minutes into the final frame.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Panthers had skated away with a resounding 7-0 victory, leaving the Lightning to ponder their lack of discipline. The two teams will meet again during the regular season on November 15 in Sunrise, but for now, the Panthers are focused on their upcoming Opening Night.
As the dust settles on this chaotic preseason finale, fans are left eagerly anticipating the regular season, hoping for more thrilling matchups—and perhaps a little less penalty box time.