Lightning Scorch Panthers

     The Florida Panthers lost their regular season finale to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 at Amalie Arena on Tuesday night. Both teams will face each other in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning this weekend. They will meet in the postseason for the fourth time in the past five years. 

     Tampa Bay(47-26-8) rocketed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. They got even-strength tallies from Brayden Point and Conor Geekie along with a shorthanded goal from Jake Guentzel. Nikita Kucherov increased it to a four-goal margin early in the second period. 

     Florida(47-31-4) make it 4-1 at the 5:36 mark of the second. Brad Marchand collected his second goal with the Cats and 23rd goal of the season on a wrist shot.