Driedger gets third shutout as Panthers beat Lightning 4-0
Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots to record his third shutout of the season, Juho Lammikko scored a short-handed goal, and the Florida Panthers secured home-ice advantage for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season finale for both clubs.
Lighting offense explodes in 6-1 route of Panthers
Barclay Goodrow of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores a third period goal against Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on February 13, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. SUNRISE, Fla. – Tyler Johnson scored two of Tampa Bay’s four goals in the second period and the Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 6-1. Frank Vatrano scored in the third period for the Panthers. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky struggled in the loss for Florida, allowing six goals on just 28 shots. Anthony Duclair, who missed the Panthers previous game after being added to the NHL’s COVID Protocol List, played Saturday after being removed from the list earlier in the day.
Lightning Effect: Skilled NHL teams add grit to go for Cup
Rewind to 2019 and early 2020 and that description fits the Tampa Bay Lightning, who added some grit and toughness to their talented core and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning effect was clear as soon as NHL free agency opened. “You need guys that are going to have a little bit of sandpaper. “We maybe have taken a little bit of a step back from the most skillful lineup we’ve ever had to more of a balance between the will and the skill," Poile said. We certainly have a little bit more physicality, a little bit more grit and I think it’s probably and hopefully a better mix than we had last year.”___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports