NHL: Panthers pounce on the Lightning to secure home-ice in the playoffs
Sunrise, Florida - The Florida Panthers owned their crucial game against the Lightning and gained own home-ice advantage in the upcoming playoffs.
The Panthers took command of home-ice in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by shutting out the Lightning with a big 4-0 win at home. Florida also finished their season, riding a six-game winning streak into the number two seed of the NHL's Central Division.
The game started with two evenly-matched squads not giving much away until MacKenzie Weegar (27) scored, with only minutes to go in the first period. Juho Lammikko then added to his first-period assist by scoring a short-handed goal midway through the second, while Florida was still struggled to get things going. That opened the floodgates and goals by Carter Verhaeghe and Alex Wennberg closed things out in the third period.
Five Panthers each had an assist credited for Florida's four total goals, while Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots for his third career shutout.
At the close of the regular season, the Panthers finish in the Central Division in second, behind the Hurricanes and the Lightning placed at third.
Around the NHL
Conor McDavid scored the game-winner for Edmonton as the Oilers won in overtime over the Canadiens 4-3. The Bruins also needed extra time to beat the Islanders 3-2. And sticking with trends, the Stars beat the Blackhawks in overtime 5-4.
The Canucks won on the road in Winnepeg, beating the Jets 3-1, while the Predators shut out the Hurricanes 5-0. The Flyers finished their season with a 4-2 win over the Devils.
The Avalanche outlasted the Golden Knights 2-1. And the Blues beat the Kings in overtime 2-1.
On Tuesday, the Capitals host the Bruins and the Canucks are in a quick rematch with the Jets.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Icon SMI