The Florida Panthers sent a definitive message ahead of the regular season, dismantling their cross-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, with a resounding 7-0 shutout victory on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena. The game, a preseason finale for both teams, was a lopsided affair dominated by Florida’s offense and special teams.
The Lightning, who finished the preseason with an otherwise strong 6-1-0 record, struggled to generate offense, managing only 15 shots on goal compared to the Panthers’ 36. The final frame was particularly telling, with Tampa Bay failing to register a single shot in the third period.
READ: Raddysh Shines As Lightning Power Play Secures 4-1 Preseason Win Over Predators
The Panthers’ power play was the story of the night, converting on a staggering four of seven opportunities (4-17), with all seven Florida goals coming on the man advantage. Forward Evan Rodrigues netted a hat trick, all on the power play, and added an assist to lead the charge, earning the first star of the game. Eetu Luostarinen also had a big night with four assists.
The special teams battle extended beyond the scoreboard, however, as the game descended into a penalty-filled contest. The two teams combined for a massive 312 penalty minutes, with the Lightning accounting for 172 of those, showcasing a lack of discipline that cost them dearly.
Despite the blowout loss, a few Lightning players posted notable stats. Forward Dominic James led the team in ice time with 27:01, while Dylan Duke and Jack Finley each dished out a team-high six hits. Forward Oliver Bjorkstrand paced the team in shots on goal with six.
READ: Lightning Games To Be Broadcast Over-The-Air, On Cable, And by Streaming For 2025-26 Season
In preparation for the game, the Lightning recalled several players from the Syracuse Crunch, including forwards Dylan Duke, Boris Katchouk, Scott Sabourin, and Wojciech Stachowiak, as well as defensemen Charle-Edouard D’Astous and Roman Schmidt.
The loss officially closes the book on the preseason.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will now shift their focus to the regular season, which they open at home on Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena against the Ottawa Senators at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Upcoming Lightning Schedule (EST):
- Oct. 9: vs. Ottawa (7:00pm)
- Oct. 11: vs. New Jersey (7:00pm)
- Oct. 13: at Boston (1:00pm)
- Oct. 14: at Washington (7:00pm)
- Oct. 17: at Detroit (7:00pm)
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