Panthers Pregamer Round 1, Game 6 at TBL

MAY 26, 2021 at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

2020-21 vs. TBL: 5-2-1
GAME 1 vs. TBL: FLA 4, TBL 5
GAME 2 vs. TBL: FLA 1, TBL 3
GAME 3 at TBL: FLA 6, TBL 5 [OT]
GAME 4 at TBL: FLA 2, TBL 6
GAME 5 vs. TBL: FLA 4, TBL 1

PLAYOFFS TEAM STATS

	FLORIDA (2-3)	TAMPA BAY (3-2)
GOALS FOR	17 (4^th most)	20 (T-1^st)
GOALS AGAINST	20 (T-16^thfewest)	17 (13^th fewest)
POWER PLAY %	30.0 (T-3^rd)	41.2 (2^nd)
PENALTY KILL %	58.8 (15^th)	70.0 (T-13^th)
SHOTS FOR PER-GAME	39.6 (3^rd most)	32.6 (T-11^thmost)
SHOTS AGAINST PER-GAME	32.6 (T-5^thfewest)	39.6 (14^th fewest)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %	54.8 (5^th)	45.2 (12^th)
FACEOFF WIN %	50.8 (7^th)	49.2 (10^th)

CATS STATS

The Panthers earned their second win of the series in Game 5 vs. TBL, holding TBL to one goal in rookie goaltender Spencer Knight‘s first career playoff game. Knight turned aside all 36 shots faced after allowing a goal on TBL’s first shot of the game. The Panthers penalty kill blanked TBL for the second time in the series, stopping each of the two Lightning PP opportunities.
Radko Gudas logged 10 hits in the game, increasing his league lead among defensemen in hits (38). Jonathan Huberdeau produced two points (0-2-2) in the matchup, reaching 10 points (2-8-10) in the series, the most points recorded in a single playoff series in franchise history.
Florida looks to avoid elimination tonight in Game 6 and force a Game 7 on Friday, May 28 at BB&T Center. FLA will look to earn its first win in a Game 6 since May 30, 1996 vs. PIT.
The Panthers have scored on the power play in each of their last three games, owning a 35.7 (5/14) power play percentage in that span. Jonathan Huberdeau leads the Panthers on the man advantage in the playoffs with five power play points (1-4-5), while Patric Hornqvist has scored twice on the power play.
Aleksander Barkov has registered points in each of his five games played in the series (1-6-7) and has recorded points in nine consecutive postseason games played (2-9-11). Ranking second on FLA in playoff points, Barkov leads the club with 18 shots on goal. Over 15 career NHL postseason games with FLA, the 25-year-old native of Tampere, Finland, has amassed 14 points (4-10-14).
Over 34 career regular season games vs. TBL, Barkov has logged 28 points (5-23-28), including a point-per-game average this season (1-7-8 in 8 GP). Including regular season games, Barkov has points in each of his last nine games (3-10-13). Barkov has produced seven career playoff power-play points, the most among Panthers skaters all-time.
Jonathan Huberdeau has produced multi-point efforts in each of his last three games (1-6-7), tying Reilly Smith (2016) for the most consecutive multipoint playoff games in franchise history. In Game 5 vs. TBL, Huberdeau registered two assists, reaching 12 career postseason assists, the most by a Panthers player in franchise history. With the two points, the native of Saint-Jerome, Quebec, reached 10 points (2-8-10) in the playoffs, the most by any Panthers player all-time in a single playoff series.
Huberdeau’s team-leading 10 points through five postseason games ranks first in the Playoffs. Florida’s franchise leader for assists and points has recorded 16 points (4-12-16) over 15 career NHL postseason games. Huberdeau ranks fourth in franchise history for playoff points and is tied for second in playoff assists. Huberdeau has produced 38 points (13-25-38) over 38 career regular season games vs. TBL, the most points he has registered against any NHL team. His point-per-game trend vs. TBL continued this season, logging seven points (3-4-7) over seven games against FLA’s cross-state rival.
Sam Bennett has produced points in each of his four postseason games played (1-4-5). Over 14 combined games in a Panthers uniform between regular season and playoffs, Bennett has produced 20 points (7-13-20), recording points in all but one game for FLA since April 17 at TBL. In his career in the playoffs, Bennett has produced 24 points (12-12-24) in 34 games. Bennett’s 21:33 average TOI is tied for first on FLA with Aleksander Barkov.
Rookie goaltender Spencer Knight made his NHL playoff debut in Game 5 vs. TBL, making 36 saves. The youngest Panthers goaltender to ever start for the club in the postseason (20 years, 35 days), Knight became the youngest goaltender in NHL history to win a playoff game when facing elimination. Over his five total appearances in the NHL, Knight has earned a win in each. The native of Darien, Conn., is the third U.S.-born goaltender in franchise history to earn a playoff win, joining John Vanbiesbrouck and Scott Clemmensen.
Knight is the fifth-youngest goalie all-time to win a playoff game and the second-youngest goaltender to record a win in their playoff debut (Don Beaupre, 19 years 202 days). Knight’s one goal allowed marked the first time FLA allowed just one goal in a postseason game since Game 4 of the 2016 first round vs. NYI (Roberto Luongo, April 20, 2016).
Head Coach Joel Quenneville has won four Stanley Cups in his coaching career, with three won as Head Coach of CHI (2010, 2013, 2015). One of only 11 head coaches in NHL history to have won three Stanley Cups, Quenneville ranks third all-time for postseason wins by a head coach, earning his 121st career playoff win in Game 5 vs. TBL, moving three wins away of surpassing Al Arbour (123) for second all-time.
In Game 5 vs. TBL, Mason Marchment registered his second goal of the postseason, becoming the first Panthers rookie to record multiple goals in the Playoffs. Marchment led all Panthers forwards in Game 5 with seven hits and his goal stood as the game-winning tally. His two goals scored on home ice leads the Panthers.
With two points (1-1-2) in Game 5 vs. TBL, MacKenzie Weegar recorded his first career playoff goal and multi-point playoff performance, while leading the team with three blocked shots and a playoff career-best +3 rating. Weegar is the third Panthers defenseman to score a goal during the series vs. TBL. Weegar’s three points (1-2-3) leads all Cats defensemen.
Ryan Lomberg scored FLA’s OT game-winner in Game 3 at TBL, becoming the first Panthers player to score a playoff OT goal since Mike Hough (Game 5, ECQF at PHI, May 12, 1996). The goal snapped an eight-game playoff winless streak in OT, dating back to June 10, 1996 (Game 4 vs. COL, SCF). The third Panther to ever record an OT playoff goal, joining Hough and Dave Lowry, Lomberg is the first Panthers rookie to score an OT playoff goal. Lomberg’s OT goal was scored on his first shot of the game. The 26-year-old has amassed 22 hits over FLA’s five postseason contests vs. TBL, the second-most hits on the Cats and first among FLA forwards.
Owen Tippett registered two assists in Game 3 at TBL, marking his second multi-point effort of the postseason. Tippett is the only Panthers rookie to have ever produced multiple multi-point efforts in the playoffs. In Game 1, in his first career NHL playoff game, Florida’s 2017 1st round pick posted two points (1-1-2), becoming the first Panthers rookie to record a multi-point game in their playoff debut.
Tippett joined Ed Jovanovski and Radek Dvorak as the only other Panthers rookies to have recorded multi-point playoff efforts. He was the first Panthers rookie to score a playoff goal since David Nemirovsky (April 23, 1997 at NYR). Tippett has produced four points (1-3-4) in the playoffs, tying Dvorak (1-3-4, 1996) for the second-most points registered by a Panthers rookie in the postseason. Jovanovski owns the franchise record for playoff points by a FLA rookie (1-8-9, 1996).
Patric Hornqvist has posted points in each of his last three games, producing five points in that span (2-3-5). Hornqvist tallied his first playoff goal as a Panther with a PPG marker in Game 3 at TBL and added his second PPG tally in Game 5. Playing in his seventh consecutive postseason, Hornqvist’s Game 4 goal was his 24th tally in that span (71GP). Hornqvist has played in 95 career playoff games, winning two Stanley Cup championships with PIT (2016, 2017). He scored the Cup-clinching goal in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. He has amassed 22 points (11-11-22) over 28 career regular season games vs. TBL.

FLA-TBL CONNECTIONS

FLA defenseman Radko Gudas was selected by TBL in the third round (66th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played 126 games for TBL (2012-13 to 2014-15), producing 32 pts (7-25-32).
FLA defenseman Anton Stralman played 355 games for TBL (2014-15 to 2018-19), amassing 130 points (29-101-130). Stralman went to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final with TBL, recording 10 points (1-9-10) over 26 games during the 2014-15 Stanley Cup playoffs.
FLA forward Carter Verhaeghe played 52 games for TBL (2019-20), notching 13 points (9-4-13). He won the 2020 Stanley Cup with TBL, producing two assists over eight postseason games.
FLA forward Nikita Gusev was selected by TBL in the seventh round (202nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
FLA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (2013-14 to 2016-17), FLA forward Alex Wennberg (2014-15 to 2016-17) and FLA defenseman Markus Nutivaara (2016-17) were teammates with TBL goaltender Curtis McElhinney on CBJ.
FLA defenseman Anton Stralman was teammates with TBL defenseman Ryan McDonagh on NYR from 2011-12 to 2013-14, including an appearance in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
FLA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was teammates with TBL goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and TBL forward Nikita Kucherov on Team Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
FLA defenseman Brandon Montour was teammates with TBL forwards Anthony Cirelli and Mathieu Joseph on Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championships, earning Silver Medals.
FLA forward Nikita Gusev was teammates with TBL goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and TBL forward Nikita Kucherov on Team Russia at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championships, earning Silver Medals.
FLA defenseman Radko Gudas won the 2012 Calder Cup while playing for Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, winning alongside present-day TBL forwards Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat, as well as TBL GM Julien BriseBois, Head Coach Jon Cooper and Goaltending Coach Frantz Jean.
TBL Head Coach Jon Cooper served as Assistant Coach on Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey which included FLA defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
FLA defenseman Anton Stralman and TBL defenseman Victor Hedman were teammates on Team Sweden at the 2017 IIHF World Championships, earning Gold Medals.
FLA forward Anthony Duclair and TBL forward Brayden Point were teammates on Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships, earning Gold Medals.
FLA forward Nikita Gusev, TBL forward Nikita Kucherov and TBL goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy were teammates on Team Russia at the 2019 World Championships, earning Bronze Medals and at the 2012 World Junior Championships, earning Silver Medals.
FLA forward Carter Verhaeghe and TBL forwards Barclay Goodrow and Gemel Smith share the hometown of Toronto, Ontario.
FLA forward Owen Tippett and TBL forward Mitchell Stephens are cousins and share the hometown of Peterborough, Ontario.
FLA forward Alex Wennberg and TBL defenseman Andreas Borgman and Fredrik Claesson share the hometown of Stockholm, Sweden.
FLA goaltender Philippe Desrosiers and TBL defenseman David Savard share the hometown of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec.
FLA forward Scott Wilson and TBL goaltender Spencer Martin share the hometown of Oakville, Ontario.
FLA Senior Advisor to the General Manager Rick Dudley served as General Manager of TBL from 1999-00 to 2001-02.