Nikita Kucherov gets goal, ejection as Lightning blank Panthers

Field Level Media|published: Mon 23rd December, 22:22 2024

Dec 22, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) controls the puck against the Florida Panthers in the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Nikita Kucherov netted the game-winner before being ejected and the Tampa Bay Lightning split their home-and-home set against the Florida Panthers by blanking the Stanley Cup champions 4-0 on Monday in Sunrise, Fla.

Lightning backup goaltender Jonas Johansson stopped 36 shots for his first shutout since October 2023.

Kucherov scored early but was assessed a game misconduct late in the first period after a kneeing incident on Matthew Tkachuk, who had to be helped to the dressing room but later returned.

Brandon Hagel had a goal and an assist, and Jake Guentzel and Mitchell Chaffee hit the net. Victor Hedman and Anthony Cirelli posted two assists apiece.

The Lightning improved to 7-2-0 in December by winning for the fifth time in the past six games.

Over the past seven games, first-place Florida went 4-3-0 and was shut out in all three defeats. Still, the Panthers are 10-3-1 in the past 14.

Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who sat out the Panthers' 4-2 win in Tampa on Sunday, made 25 saves on Monday.

In their final contest before the Christmas break, the cross-state rivals were back at it in another physical game that resembled their April playoff series, won by Florida in five games.

Held off the scoresheet the night before, Kucherov flashed the into the offensive zone, took a feed from Hedman and lifted in the first marker at 6:56 of the first period for his team-leading 50th point.

Guentzel made it 2-0 just 2:24 later, when he took a drop pass from Hagel and sent a shot through traffic in front of Bobrovsky.

Chaffee's power-play putback at 16:24 gave the Lightning a three-goal lead after one period.

At 8:11 of the second, a major brawl broke out between four members of each club after Florida's Dmitry Kulikov went shoulder-to-shoulder with Gage Goncalves and knocked the rookie to the ice.

Johansson was strong and stuffed 18 Panthers shots in the frame. His best moment was denying Rasmus Asplund, playing his second game with Florida, on the blocker side on a breakaway in the final minute.

On a power play with less than six minutes to play, Florida pulled Bobrovsky for a six-on-four advantage. Hagel then whipped a puck the length of the ice into the empty net for a 4-0 lead at 14:18.

--Field Level Media