After winning the first two games of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Florida Panthers fell to the Bolts by a 5-1 final score in Game 3. Overall, it was simply a tough game for the Panthers, and they will now look to bounce back in Game 4 from here.
If the Panthers hope to extend their series lead to 3-1 over the Lightning, they will need these three key players to shine in Game 4.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky is certainly a Panther to watch against the Lightning in Game 4. The 36-year-old’s goal will be looking to have a strong night after a shaky performance in Game 3. During it, he allowed four goals on 21 shots, which equates to a .810 save percentage.
While Bobrovsky had some struggles in Game 3, he undoubtedly has the potential to bounce back for the Panthers. He notably had a 19-save shutout in Game 2, and it will be intriguing to see if he regains that form in Game 4 against the Lightning from here.
Brad Marchand
One of the main reasons the Panthers brought Marchand in from the Boston Bruins was his high amount of success in the playoffs. He is still looking to have his first big playoff performance as a Panther, and perhaps it will come in a crucial Game 4.
Marchand has one assist, five shots, and a plus-2 rating in three playoff games for the Panthers so far. Overall, he has been creating chances, and it will be interesting to see if he puts together a multi-point night in Game 4.
Matthew Tkachuk
Good things happen for the Panthers when Tkachuk is on his game, and he has been all post-season. In three games thus far, the 2016 sixth-overall pick has three goals, one assist, and a plus-1 rating. This includes scoring the Panthers’ lone goal in their Game 3 loss.
With the Panthers looking to not allow the Lightning to tie the series up, they will be hoping that Tkachuk can have himself another clutch game. Given how well he has played early on this post-season, it is hard to bet against him doing just that.
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