Lightning Storm Panthers

     Roberto Luongo passed Patrick Roy for second place in NHL history with most games played by a goalie as the Florida Panthers were defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on Sunday night at BB&T Center. Luongo replaced James Reimer at the beginning of the third period and played in his 1,030th contest.
     The Panthers began a seven-game home stand. The Lightning have the best record in the National Hockey League with 86 points. The Panthers ended up winless against the Bolts in their four meetings this season.
     Tampa Bay(41-11-4) pulled ahead 1-0 at the 4:02 mark. Anton Stralman found Victor Hedman in the low left circle and he centered it. Nikita Kucherov scored on a wrist shot from the low slot for his 23rd goal and 81st point of the season.
     The Lightning made it 2-0 at 12:08 of the second period. Steven Stamkos was in the neutral zone and passed to his right where Stralman got it at the Panthers blue line. He returned the puck to the middle and Stamkos redirected a backhand shot from the low slot past James Reimer for his 29th goal of the campaign.
     Just over a minute later Florida(23-23-8) was able to score with 6:49 left. Mike Matheson flicked the puck from the red line down the left-wing boards. Jonathan Huberdeau made a pass from the left circle and Frank Vatrano one-time a shot from the slot area by Louis Domingue for his 19th goal of the year.
     The Bolts extended their laed to 3-1 with 2:09 remaining in the second. Matthieu Joseph poked the puck out of the zone to center ice. Ryan Callahan got the puck at the red line, skated in alone on a breakaway and put in a backhand shot.
     The Panthers answered back again quickly and cut it to 3-2 with 1:10 to go. Denis Malgin snapped a shot into the cage from the right circle. Troy Brouwer and Riley Sheahan were credited with assists on the play.
     Luongo replaced Reimer at the start of the third period to get a major milestone in NHL history. Tampa Bay added a power-play goal at 4:25 for a 4-2 lead. Brayden Point compiled 32nd goal of the season from close ranger on assists from J.T. Miller and Kucherov.
     Florida pulled Luongo from net for an extra attacker with three minutes remaining. Keith Yandle hooked Miller on the way to net and ended the situation. The Bolts got a 5-on-3 power play goal from Kucherov with 47.2 second left. He now leads the National Hockey League with 84 points.