The Florida Panthers’ mostly-young offense hit the ice Thursday night against the veteran-laden Tampa Bay Lightning and absolutely delivered, notching a hard-fought 5-3 win in their penultimate exhibition game. Coach Paul Maurice made it clear he wanted to see his squad play within the team’s system, and these young guns didn’t just listen, they owned it, proving a win against their rivals was definitely a bonus. It was pure preseason fire!
Young Guns Show Up When It Counts
Man, what a battle! The Panthers jumped out to a sick 2-0 lead early in the second period. Bokondji Imama got his first goal in two preseason games, just knocking in a shot from Donovan Sebrango. Then Kai Schwindt capitalized on a misplayed puck right behind the Tampa Bay net, slamming it past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Two-zip! But you know the Lightning, they don’t roll over. They clawed their way back, tying things up a couple of times. Jansen Harkins fired a wrist shot for their first, then Conor Geekie absolutely cleaned up on a breakaway from Sam O’Reilly, evening it at two goals apiece in the second. But get this: the Panthers, rolling with mostly an AHL-level lineup, put on a clinic. They shut down a massive 5-on-3 power play for 1:55 late in the second! That was huge, preventing the Lightning from taking the lead when it mattered most. That grit set the stage for a ridiculous third period where the Panthers slammed home three more goals to seal the deal. Hunter St. Martin grabbed the lead back with a pretty goal from the slot, off a feed from Alexander Petrovic.
Reinhardt’s Roster Push Is Real
Okay, but let’s talk about the absolute highlight reel moment: Cole Reinhardt. This dude is making a serious push to make the Opening Night roster, and he showed exactly why. After Harkins managed to tie it again for the Lightning just five minutes into the third, Reinhardt swooped in six seconds later and dropped the hammer! He absolutely stripped veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh of the puck deep in the Tampa zone and then, without hesitation, laced it past Andrei Vasilevskiy, beating him five-hole. That wasn’t just a goal; that was a pure statement play. It was Reinhardt’s third goal in as many preseason games, showcasing a scoring touch that’s impossible to ignore for Coach Maurice. On the defensive end, Cooper Black, who’s eyeing a starting spot in Charlotte, held strong for the first two periods, making 14 saves, before Kirill Gerasimyuk came in for the third. These guys are stepping up big time, showing serious depth and hustle.
So, what’s next for this young, hungry Panthers squad? They’ve got one more preseason showdown, facing off against these same Lightning in Sunrise on Saturday. Then it’s the real deal: the 2026-27 NHL Season Opener on Tuesday, a road game against the Carolina Hurricanes. If Thursday night was any indication, these Panthers are not messing around, and their young core is absolutely ready to make some serious noise. Get ready, because this season is going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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