Three takeaways: Panthers not intimidated by Tampa in exciting rivalry matchup highlighted by goaltending
Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy were stellar in goal for their respective clubs, stopping a combined 56 of 60 shots, including 14 of the high danger variety
A tight, competitive win over one of your biggest divisional rivals is a heck of way to come out of the holiday break.
That’s exactly what the Florida Panthers did on Wednesday, fighting for a well-earned two points in a very tough building to play in, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in front of 19,092 fans at Amalie Arena.
It was the second time in as many seasons that the Panthers and Lightning locked horns in a matchup that came immediately after a league-wide break, and it further proved that the Cats are getting more and more comfortable playing in the Bolts’ barn.
Let’s get to the takeaways.
Both tendies sharp off break
Goaltending played a big part in Wednesday’s game between the Panthers and Lightning.
Both Sergei Bobrovsky and Andre Vasilevskiy put on a show, combining to stop 14 of 16 high danger shots and coming up with several show-stopping saves during the third period.
Speaking after the game, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said one thing that really impressed him was how they were so sharp after an extended break.
“Just the timing that (Bobrovsky) can take three days off and come in and be that sharp, and that's true of their goaltender as well,” Maurice said. “Two elite, elite veteran goaltenders that know how to prepare themselves to play. When the guys in front of them had a break down, they both made a couple of just incredible saves in that game.”
Reino’s big night
Sam Reinhart is up to 21 goals and 42 points through 34 games after noticing a pair of tallies against Tampa.
He also logged five shots and finished with a plus-3 rating while picking up his second shorthanded goal and fourth game-winning goal of the year.
The 28-year-old pending unrestricted free agent is having the best year of his career on both ends of the ice and showing no signs of slowing down.
“He’s just really smart,” Maurice said of Reinhart. “He gets his body into so many position…so the goals are incredible, but to keep the puck in the offensive zone at the end of the game just by how he positioned himself, and (the way that he) knocks pucks down, that that's the stuff that makes him gold.”
Comfort against Tampa
Wednesday’s victory was Florida’s third straight over the Lightning, dating back to last season, and second in a row in their barn.
The three wins have come by a combined score of 14-4.
Maurice admitted there is a difference in his team when facing their cross-state rival, and that it started, interestingly enough, with a game that came right off a break.
Tampa Bay was Florida’s first opponent after last season’s All-Star Break, and that was a crucial time in the Panthers’ turnaround.
The Cats took down Tampa 7-1 and never looked back, and seem to have earned a leg up on the Bolts since.
“We started to become a good team against Tampa last year,” Maurice said. “We weren't at the start, the first two games that we played against them we did not play well, and then (later in the year) we came in, and we came in shorthand and played a heck of a game, and that was the start for us. So now we feel some confidence. These are tight games…but I think we come in with the idea that we can play with them.”
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