It was a must-win situation for the Florida Panthers on Thursday night for game three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Panthers trail the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in the series. However, Florida did what they have done multiple times this season… win in a comeback. The ‘Comeback Cats‘ nickname continues into the postseason for the Panthers with an overtime goal from Ryan Lomberg.
After giving up five goals in the second period the Panthers trailed 5-3 going into the third period. Florida shortened that lead with a power play goal from Patric Hornqvist. As with the theme of the Pathers season the ice cats continued to fight. With time ticking down Florida tied the game courtesy of a Gustav Forsling goal, subsequently sending the game to OT.
Despite the 2-0 series lead going into Thursday’s game this has been a highly contested series. The Panthers returned to their hot handed goalie they finished the regular season with in Chris Driedger. The move lasted until Tampa’s five goal second period which resulted in a Sergei Bobrovsky substitution. Bobrovsky was lights out in the third period stopping all nine shots he faced on his way to victory.
However, the most important play of the night came in overtime with a goal from unlikely hero Ryan Lomberg. Coming off a won face off in their own end the Panthers Radko Gudas saucered the puck ahead to Frank Vatrano who tipped it ahead to Ryan Lomberg on the breakaway. The goal gave the Panthers a 6-5 victory, and more importantly brought the series within a game.
Lomberg Goal
Game four will be Saturday at Amalie Arena where Florida hopes to even the series. One question going into the game is who will be back in goal for the Panthers? Sergei Bobrovsky certainly made his case tonight in what continues to be one of the most exciting matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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