The Florida Panthers overcame the Tampa Bay Lightning with a decisive 6-3 victory, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Eetu Luostarinen spearheaded the effort with a goal and three assists, while Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, and Sam Reinhart each contributed to the scoring. Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves, showcasing his solid performance as the Panthers eliminated their in-state rivals for the second consecutive season, winning the series in five games.

Despite Tampa Bay's Nick Paul scoring the first goal of the match, Florida quickly equalized with Verhaeghe's power-play goal. The Lightning's inability to capitalize on home ice was evident, as they have now lost nine of their last ten playoff games in front of their fans. The Panthers will now prepare to face the winner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators series, which currently sees Toronto leading 3-2.

The Florida Panthers showcased their championship pedigree by eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning in a decisive Game 5, winning 6-3 and securing their place in the second round of the NHL playoffs. This victory marks their third consecutive triumph over the Lightning in playoff series, having dispatched them in five games last year as well.

With a roster now bolstered by trade acquisitions like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones, the Panthers demonstrated impressive depth and resilience. Despite starting the game with a deficit, they quickly regained control, with Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell scoring in rapid succession. Eetu Luostarinen starred with a four-point performance that included a key goal in the third period, while Sam Bennett's second-period goal put Florida ahead for good. Notably, the Panthers effectively neutralized the Lightning's power play, limiting them to just two goals throughout the series.

The Florida Panthers triumphed over the Tampa Bay Lightning with a decisive 6-3 victory in Game 5, thus advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Eetu Luostarinen shone brightly, contributing a goal and three assists. Other key goals came from Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and captain Aleksander Barkov. Sergei Bobrovsky secured the win with 26 saves, showcasing his resilience in goal. This victory marks the Panthers' advancement to the postseason's second round for the fourth consecutive year, and they will now face the winner of the ongoing series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, with Toronto holding a slim lead of 3-2.

The Florida Panthers cruised to a commanding 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, securing their spot in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Eetu Luostarinen emerged as a standout performer, contributing significantly with a goal and three assists. Other contributors included Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and Aleksander Barkov, each of whom found the back of the net. This victory marks the Panthers' continued dominance over their in-state rivals, successfully eliminating the Lightning in five games for the second straight season. Sergei Bobrovsky was solid in goal, making 26 saves, as Florida reached the second round for the fourth consecutive year. They will next face the winner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators series, currently led by Toronto.

The Florida Panthers halted their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, showcasing a strong performance from Eetu Luostarinen, who opened the scoring early in the third period. The Panthers also saw contributions from Gustav Forsling and an empty-netter from Carter Verhaeghe. Florida's goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was crucial, making 17 saves to secure the win. For the Maple Leafs, John Tavares netted his 37th goal of the season, but it was not enough to keep their four-game winning streak alive.

The Panthers welcomed back Aleksander Barkov after a brief injury absence, but they also faced challenges with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk sidelined, adding pressure as they aim for playoff positioning. The team is now just four points behind the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division, intensifying the race for playoff seeding. Toronto, despite the loss, has been strong this season against Florida, although the Panthers have boasted a favorable record against them recently.