Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said he wanted to see his mostly-young offense play within the team’s system in its penultimate exhibition game of the preseason Thursday against the host Tampa Bay Lightning.
A win against the veteran-laden Lightning would certainly be a bonus.
That’s a Bingo!
The Panthers took a 2-0 lead early in the second off goals by Bokondji Imama and Kai Schwindt, and although the Lightning tied things up a few times, the Panthers got three in the third for a 5-3 win.
Tampa Bay visits Sunrise in the final preseason game for both teams.
The Panthers did a lot of good things on Thursday night.
Florida’s AHL-level lineup prevented the Lightning from taking the lead late in the second on a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:55.
That allowed Hunter St. Martin to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead at 4:21 of the third off a feed from Alexander Petrovic.
Cole Reinhardtcontinues his strong push to make the Opening Night roster, making it 4-3 by stripping veteran Ryan McDonagh of the puck deep in the zone and beating Andrei Vasilevskiy through his skates.
It was the third goal in as many preseason games for Reinhardt.
Cooper Black, who looks to stick as the starter in Charlotte, played the first two periods and made 14 saves. Kirill Gerasimyuk came on to play the third.
HOW THEY SCORED
- Panthers 1, Lightning 0 (19:44 1st): Bokonji Imama gets his first in two preseason games with the Panthers, knocking in a shot from Donovan Sebrango to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy.
- Panthers 2, Lightning 0 (2:29 2nd): Kai Schwindt gets to a misplayed puck behind the Tampa Bay net and games it past Vasilevskiy.
- Panthers 2, Lightning 1 (3:14 2nd): The Lightning roll right into Florida ice with Jansen Harkins scoring on a wrist shot through traffic outside the left circle.
- Lightning 2, Panthers 2 (13:09 2nd): Sam O’Reilly and Conor Geekie get loose on a breakaway with Geekie getting the goal.
- Panthers 3, Lightning 2 (4:21 3rd): Hunter St. Martin gave the Panthers the lead back with a pretty goal from the slot.
- Lightning 3, Panthers 3 (5:29 3rd): Harkins gets his second, banging in a loose puck off Kirill Gerasimyuk.
- Panthers 4, Lightning 3 (5:35 3rd): Cole Reinhardt strips a puck deep in the Tampa zone and beats Vasilevskiy 5-hole.
- Panthers 5, Lightning 3 (19:36 3rd EN): Sandis Vilmanis ends it.
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK
- Preseason (All Games on Scripps/Panthers+) — Game 1: Panthers 6, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (Sunday); Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2 SO (Tuesday); Game 3: Panthers 5, Lightning 3 (Thursday); Game 4: Saturday vs. Lightning, 6 p.m.
- 2026-27 NHL Season Opener: Florida at Carolina Hurricanes; Tuesday, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
- 2026-27 NHL Home Opener: Minnesota Wild at Florida; Oct. 10, 6 p.m. (Scripps)
- Full 2026-27 Florida Panthers Schedule
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