Overview

• Tampa Bay secured a narrow neutral-site win over Florida at Orlando’s Kia Center, with Jonas Johansson closing out the third period.
• Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the scoring on a 5-on-3 power play, while MacKenzie Entwistle and Ryan McAllister tallied for the Panthers.
• Both clubs limited regulars in this matchup as roster evaluations continued ahead of their remaining preseason games in Tampa on Thursday and Sunrise on Saturday.
• Lightning starter Andrei Vasilevskiy skated on his own but did not travel to Orlando, with a return to team practice expected later.
• The NHL’s plan to shorten future preseasons could curtail neutral-site exhibitions like this Orlando meeting.