Panthers drop 3rd straight game following 12-game win streak

TAMPA – Nikita Kucherov had two goals and the Tampa Bay Lightning extended a season-high winning streak to five games by beating the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers 3-1 on Sunday night.

Andrej Sustr had the other Tampa Bay goal and Ben Bishop made 26 saves to help the Lightning move within five points of Florida.

Bishop is 7-1-1 against the Panthers.

Nick Bjugstad scored for the Panthers.

Florida is 0-2-1 since ending a 12-game winning streak.

Roberto Luongo made 29 saves and became the seventh goalie to play in 900 NHL games.