Lightning Defeat Panthers in Heated Rivalry Game Marked by Penalties

Tampa Bay secures a 4-0 victory over Florida despite Nikita Kucherov's ejection for a controversial hit on Matthew Tkachuk.

The Tampa Bay Lightning rebounded from a previous loss to the Florida Panthers with a decisive 4-0 win in a penalty-heavy game in Sunrise, Florida.
Nikita Kucherov was ejected in the first period for a knee-to-knee hit on Matthew Tkachuk, who later returned to the game despite appearing injured.
Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson delivered an exceptional performance, stopping all 36 shots for his first shutout of the season.
The rivalry game saw 63 penalty minutes and multiple physical altercations, with both teams engaging in rough play throughout the match.
Tampa Bay's strong special teams play, including a perfect penalty kill and an early power-play goal, proved critical to their victory.