Schmidt scores again, Bobrovsky has 19 saves as Panthers beat Lightning 2-0 for 2-0 series lead

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Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with center Aleksander Barkov (16), Sam Reinhart (13) and Uvis Balinskis (26) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save as defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) clears Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) from a rebound during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) eludes a check by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (78) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90) tries to control the puck in front of Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) chase a bouncing puck during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) carries the puck ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning center Conor Geekie (14) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a kick save on a shot by the Florida Panthers during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops a shot as right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) keeps Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) from a rebound during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) carries the puck ahead of Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) keeps the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (37) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Linesman Devin Berg (87) separates Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) and Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) breaks out ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) and left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

💬

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nate Schmidt scored his third goal in two games, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 shots and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

Sam Bennett added an empty-netter with 4 seconds left. Bobrovsky got his fourth career playoff shutout, and his first since Game 1 of last year’s Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton.

Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 21 saves for Tampa Bay.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will be Saturday on the Panthers’ ice at Sunrise.

“I liked some things that we did in our own end very, very well,″ Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “They’re a dynamic offensive team, so there’s always places we can get better.″

Schmidt, who scored twice in Game 1, got the Panthers on the scoreboard 4:15 into the game following an icing call against Tampa Bay. Aleksander Barkov won the faceoff clean back to Sam Reinhart who passed it over to Schmidt for a one-timer from the right circle that beat Vasilevskiy.

“He needs to keep shooting the puck,″ Florida defenseman Seth Jones said of Schmidt. ”He’s got a great shot, he’s being aggressive right now. It’s great to see.″

The goal came after Tampa Bay misfired on two open looks when Jake Guentzel was alone at the post and missed the net 53 seconds in, then Brayden Point was open between the hashmarks and put a backhand chance wide at 1:52.

“I thought we had enough chances in a game this tight,″ Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. ”Some nights they go in, actually, most nights they go in, tonight, they didn’t, unfortunately. It’s tough.″

The Lightning, who finished fifth in the league on the power play in the regular season, went 0 for 5 and were held to just two shots on goal on the advantages.

“I think the entries were not as good tonight,″ Point said. “They did a good job at the line, and that’s something that we have to look at. We’ll do video and all that stuff to try to be better in the next one.″

Barkov left the game midway through the third period after a hit from Brandon Hagel, who received a five-minute major for interference on the play at 9:51. Barkov did not return.

Maurice did not have an update on Barkov’s condition after the game.

The Lightning were the highest-scoring team in the league during the regular season — averaging 3.56 goals per game — but have been held to two goals through two games in the series. Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov, who led the league with 121 points, has been held to one assist and three shots on goal.

“They grind, they keep their offense to the outside,″ Bobrovsky said of his teammates. “The guys have a great gap, great box outs, all those little details.″

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/NHL