Tampa Bay Lightning Shut Out Florida Panthers in Chippy Game
The Tampa Bay Lightning dominated the Florida Panthers, winning 4-0 in a physical game on Monday night. Nikita Kucherov scored before being ejected for kneeing Matthew Tkachuk, and the Lightning’s Jake Guentzel and Mitchell Chaffee also found the back of the net.
Game Summary
Jonas Johansson made 36 saves in his first shutout of the season and No. 4 for his career. Brandon Hagel added an empty-netter, and Anthony Cirelli and Victor Hedman collected two assists apiece.
Chippy Play
Tkachuk had to be helped off the ice and to the dressing room after Kucherov crashed into his right leg late in the first period. Kucherov was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit, and Tkachuk returned a couple minutes into the second.
Panthers Struggle
Florida had won four in a row, including a 4-2 victory at Tampa Bay on Sunday. However, they struggled to find their rhythm, going 0 for 4 on the power play and failing to capitalize on their scoring chances.
Takeaways
- The Lightning allowed two short-handed goals in the opener of the home-and-home set.
- Hagel scored a short-handed goal with 5:42 left in the game.
- The Panthers got off to a slow start and then played better in the second period, but couldn’t finish their offensive chances.
Key Moment
Chaffee made it 3-0 with his seventh goal of the season 16:24 into the first period. It was Tampa Bay’s ninth power-play goal in December and No. 26 on the season.
Key Stat
The Lightning were assessed nine penalties for a total of 37 minutes, and the Panthers were called for nine penalties for 26 minutes.
Up Next
Both teams return to action on Saturday after the league’s holiday break. The Panthers host Montreal, and the Lightning host the New York Rangers.
Conclusion
The Tampa Bay Lightning showed their dominance on the ice, shutting out the Florida Panthers in a physical game. With Jonas Johansson’s strong performance in goal and the team’s overall scoring prowess, they proved to be too much for the Panthers to handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who scored for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
A: Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Mitchell Chaffee, and Brandon Hagel all scored for the Lightning.
Q: Who made 36 saves in the game?
A: Jonas Johansson made 36 saves in his first shutout of the season and No. 4 for his career.
Q: Why was Nikita Kucherov ejected from the game?
A: Kucherov was ejected for kneeing Matthew Tkachuk late in the first period.
Q: What was the final score?
A: The Tampa Bay Lightning won 4-0 over the Florida Panthers.
