Picture the Tampa Bay Lightning team, a powerhouse with a Vezina Trophy finalist in net and the NHL’s leading scorer, finally get their power play clicking and secondary scoring rolling. Everything’s lining up for a deep playoff run, right? Wrong. The Florida Panthers, their in-state rivals, had other plans, flipping the script with a 6-3 Game 5 rout to send Tampa packing for the second straight postseason.
The Lightning fought hard, clawing back from deficits twice in Game 5. Gage Goncalves, Nick Paul, and Jake Guentzel lit the lamp, but it wasn’t enough. Sam Bennett’s late second-period goal gave Florida the edge they’d hold onto, with Eetu Luostarinen’s four-point night (including a goal) and Sergei Bobrovsky’s 26 saves sealing the deal. Andrei Vasilevskiy, facing a barrage, stopped 25 of 30 shots but couldn’t stem the Panther tide.
Just days before, TNT’s Paul Bissonnette was all-in on Florida. “I think that team can beat Tampa Bay, yes,” he said, joking about Aaron Ekblad’s hyperbaric chamber recovery and betting on the Panthers’ healthy lineup. But on today’s Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Biz did a full 180. “I said Florida’s gonna win this series on TNT… but I’m torn. This is gonna be an all-out war… I think the Tampa Bay Lightning are gonna win this in seven.” Oof, talk about bad timing.
Fans, meanwhile, are buzzing. One X post summed it up: “The Panthers beating a genuinely elite Lightning team in five is downright terrifying.” And terrifying it was. Florida, fully healthy after late-season injuries, won all three games in Tampa. They dominated in every way—crushing Game 1, blanking Tampa in Game 2, and staging a wild Game 4 comeback with two goals 11 seconds apart to counter Tampa’s own rapid-fire scoring.
the panthers beating a genuinely elite lightning team in five is downright terrifying
— dom (@domluszczyszyn) May 1, 2025
The Panthers, already a Stanley Cup Final contender the past two seasons, bolstered their roster with Brad Marchand, Seth Jones, and penalty killer Nico Sturm before the deadline. They stifled Tampa’s top-ranked offense, holding them to just two power-play goals and shutting out NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov for the second straight playoff series. Oh, and they poured 16 goals past Vasilevskiy.
Bissonnette’s flip-flop might have TNT viewers chuckling, but Florida’s performance is no laughing matter. This deep, battle-tested squad is a playoff nightmare, and they’re just getting started. At least the fans think so!
Fans share thoughts on TNT and Other NHL Analysts and the Tampa Bay loss to the Florida Panthers
Fan reactions to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 4-1 series loss to the Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL Playoffs first round have been heated, especially regarding pre-series predictions by ESPN, The Athletic, and Sportsnet. One fan commented, “The predictions by ESPN, The Athletic, Sportsnet were hilarious.” and another fan said, “In what world was this Lightning team ever elite? Because a bunch of mo**ns at ESPN and The Athletic predicted them to win?” This sentiment is grounded in Tampa Bay’s struggles this season. Despite a strong performance, their defensive depth was a glaring issue. The Athletic noted that Tampa’s bottom-six forwards and second/third defensive pairs, including players like Nick Perbix and Erik Černák, were underwater in expected goals percentage, highlighting their defensive lapses. These weaknesses were evident as Florida’s deep forward group, led by Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, exploited Tampa’s shaky blue line, outscoring them decisively in Games 1, 2, 4, and 5.
in what world was this Lightning team ever elite? because a bunch of morons at ESPN and The Athletic predicted them to win?
we haven’t had a bottom 6 or a bottom pair all year. and have shown countless defensive lapses the entire season
— cam (@gatorstrolI) May 1, 2025
Another fan said, “Tampa plays too loose. They give up a ton of chances. Doesn’t help that Vasilevskiy wasn’t good again. That being said, Florida are the clear favourites in the East.” This is substantiated by Tampa’s regular-season stats, where they allowed more goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five than in any season in a decade. Andrei Vasilevskiy, despite a .921 save percentage, couldn’t mask these defensive flaws against Florida’s aggressive forecheck, which limited Tampa’s rush-based offense. Florida’s top-five ranking in shot and expected goal suppression further stifled Tampa’s attack, making the Panthers a dominant force and justifying their status as East favorites.
Another fan vented, “Tampa barely had 3 lines. Is this engagement bait? You’re a clown. I’ll show you my bracket right now lol.” This reflects frustration with Tampa’s lack of depth, as injuries to Brandon Hagel left them thin. NHL.com reported Tampa’s reliance on stars like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, but their bottom-six forwards struggled, unable to match Florida’s four-line depth. Fans’ disappointment is clear: analysts overestimated a top-heavy Lightning team that couldn’t overcome its defensive and depth issues against a battle-tested Panthers squad.
In conclusion, the Lightning’s playoff exit underscores the gap between their star-driven potential and their roster’s limitations. Fans rightfully called out overly optimistic predictions, as Tampa’s defensive frailties and lack of depth were no match for Florida’s disciplined, high-octane game. The Panthers’ dominance signals their contender status, while Tampa faces tough questions about rebuilding their depth for future runs.
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