The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning square off in Game 4 of their heated first-round playoff series on Monday night, with the Panthers holding a narrow 2–1 series lead but momentum now tilting slightly toward the Lightning following Tampa Bay’s convincing 5–2 victory in Game 3. After dominating the first two contests with suffocating defense and opportunistic scoring, Florida was unable to match Tampa Bay’s urgency and speed on Saturday, as the Lightning’s stars came to life and their depth players chipped in crucial goals to breathe life into a series that had been slipping away. Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point were once again central to Tampa Bay’s success, combining skill, speed, and experience to overwhelm the Panthers’ defense, while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy delivered a much-needed bounce-back performance after struggling in Games 1 and 2, providing the type of steady, big-save goaltending that has defined his playoff career. For Florida, the Game 3 loss highlighted the importance of maintaining discipline and composure, as costly defensive breakdowns and a lack of finishing in high-danger areas allowed the Lightning to build confidence early and control the tempo of the game. Adding to the Panthers’ concerns is the uncertain status of captain Aleksander Barkov, who was injured during Game 2 and remains a game-time decision for Monday; his absence would leave a significant void both offensively and defensively, as Barkov’s two-way excellence is a pillar of Florida’s identity.

Even so, the Panthers are far from panicking, with players like Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe capable of driving the offense and imposing their physical style to shift momentum back in their favor. Historically, the Panthers have been strong at bouncing back after playoff losses under head coach Paul Maurice, but they must tighten up defensively and get more consistent goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky, who will need to elevate his play against a Lightning squad that appears to have found its rhythm. Betting trends suggest Tampa Bay’s road resilience should not be overlooked, as the Lightning have performed well against the puck line in away games this season, while Florida has struggled to cover the spread at home despite their impressive win totals. With so much riding on Game 4—either Florida pulling within one win of advancing or Tampa Bay evening the series—the matchup promises to be fast, physical, and filled with playoff drama where every shift could swing momentum sharply in one direction. Both teams know that establishing control early, winning battles along the boards, and capitalizing on special teams opportunities will be paramount in deciding who holds the upper hand heading back to Tampa for a critical Game 5.