5 Takeaways from Lightning vs. Panthers Game 2

May 19, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) moves the puck ahead of Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

1. Nikita Kucherov has us speechless again

For the Lightning’s leading playoff scorer this postseason, the Florida Panthers have proved to be a fertile feeding ground. After making Aaron Ekblad look like a confused traffic cone in Game 1, Nikita Kucherov made Mackenzie Weegar pay for chasing him behind the net and not covering his man – Ross Colton – in the dying seconds of the third period.

THAT'S ROSS GOAL-TON TO YOU 🫵 pic.twitter.com/cH9UyQ0Znq
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 20, 2022

Colton, the Lightning’s leading goal scorer in this year’s playoffs, was not going to be denied after Kucherov’s brilliant backwards pass from behind the net.

We said that if the Lightning were going to threepeat this season that Kucherov was going to have to be the difference maker offensively for the Lightning, and this play to prevent overtime and send the series back to Tampa with the Bolts up 2-0 is exactly what we are looking for.