The Florida Panthers opened the 2014-15 regular season with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday night. The Bolts swept the Panthers 4-0-0 last season to win the inaugural Governor's Cup.
There was no scoring between both clubs in the first period as the Cats were held to one shot in the first 19 minutes of the game. Tampa Bay held an 8-3 edge in shots after one period.
Florida(0-0-1) drew first blood in the second period as they scored at 5:03. Derek MacKenzie won a face-off in the right circle and steered the puck to Dylan Olsen at the right point. He sent a short pass to Erik Gudbranson in the middle of the ice and he fired a slapshot over the left glove of Ben Bishop for a 1-0 lead.
Tampa Bay(1-0-0) answered back on the power play just over two minutes at to tie the game 1-1 at 7:12. Valtteri Filppula received a cross-ice pass from Anton Stralman at the top left circle. He faked a shot and fed Tyler Johnson in the right circle where he redirected a wrist shot past the left side of Roberto Luongo.
The Bolts added another power-play goal at 7:17 of the third period when Ryan Callahan converted on the tally. Florida evened it up at 2-2 with 10:44 remaining in regulation as Aaron Ekblad picked up his first NHL assist and point on a goal by Jonathan Huberdeau.
The Lightning were rewarded the man advantage on a Scottie Upshall interference penalty at the end of the third period. They capitalized on the 4-on-3 in overtime during a bad line change by the Panthers. Bishop flung a long lead pass down the penalty-box side to Victor Hedman who raced down the left side and snapped a shot over the right shoulder of Luongo at 1:11 for the 3-2 victory.
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