Lightning Still Alive, Panthers Look to Wrap it Up

Florida Panthers v Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Four

(Photo : (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)) TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 27: Oliver Ekman-Larsson #91 of the Florida Panthers steals the puck from Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of Game Four of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on April 27, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

The Tampa Bay Lightning came up with a win on home ice to avoid elimination on Saturday, but the Florida Panthers still have three more cracks at ousting their rivals.

After the Panthers jolted out to a 3-0 series lead thanks to two fairly convincing wins and an overtime game, the Lightning's backs were up against the wall at Amalie Arena on Saturday.

The 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup champions fought back, powered by the return of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from injury, to force Game 5 back in Sunrise.

Can Florida Keep Tampa at Bay?

Captain Steven Stamkos and winger Brandon Hagel both scored twice for the home team yesterday on their way to a commanding 6-3 win over Florida.

Much has been made about Stamkos' impending free agency, as the team has not made a serious effort to extend him to a new deal.

Any game at this point could be his last in the blue, and for him to come up with such a clutch performance in this environment does wonders for his team.

Coming back from 3-0 down is nearly impossible, but the Lightning can find some hope in the fact that they finally hung a big number on Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. Tampa Bay would really need him to be off his game for the long term to have any chance of completing the comeback.

In the end, Florida likely has more speed, skill, and more youth, which will all favor them as the series wears on, but the Lightning can only take things one game at a time at this point, as step one to a comeback is now in the books.