Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper expressed his discontent following Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, particularly over Brandon Hagel's injury from an unpenalized hit by Aaron Ekblad. Hagel's exit due to a high elbow left the Lightning frustrated, especially as it followed his own one-game suspension for a prior hit on Aleksander Barkov. Cooper's challenge to reporters highlighted the ongoing scrutiny surrounding player safety in the playoffs.

Despite the early turmoil, Tampa Bay initially responded with two quick back-to-back goals, but Florida regained control in the third period. Goals from Ekblad, Seth Jones, and Carter Verhaeghe led the Panthers to a 4-2 victory, granting them a 3-1 series lead. The Panthers are now poised to close the series in Game 5, while Tampa Bay's resilience will be tested in the face of escalating physicality.