Barkov scores twice as Panthers beat Lightning 2-1 and snap Tampa Bay's 8-game winning streak

Barkov scores twice as Panthers beat Lightning 2-1 and snap Tampa Bay’s 8-game winning streak

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Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) is congratulated after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, left defends the goal against Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mitchell Chaffee (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) falls to the ice as he collides with goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) and Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) defends the goal against Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) falls to the ice as Tampa Bay Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons (28) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) defend the goals against Tampa Bay Lightning center Gage Goncalves (93) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By ALANIS THAMES

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Aleksander Barkov scored twice in the second period, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots, and the Florida Panthers beat their in-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Monday night.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers won their fourth straight game, while the Lightning had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Tampa Bay hadn’t lost a game since Feb. 1.

Brayden Point got the Lightning on the board with his team-leading 32nd goal of the season early in the third. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves.

The Panthers lead the regular-season series 2-1. Tampa Bay will host the final meeting of the regular season on April 15.

Veteran defenseman Seth Jones made his Panthers debut after being acquired over the weekend in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks and nearly scored a goal early in the second. Vasilevskiy was able to make the save, but the play drew cheers from the crowd of Panthers fans.

Takeaways

Lightning: Entered with the best power play unit on the road this season (32.1%) but went 0 for 6 on Monday night, even after Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen drew a four-minute double minor for high-sticking against Jake Guentzel in the second period.

Panthers: Bobrovsky, coming off a 23-save performance in a 3-0 win over Calgary, has had an excellent two-game stretch. He withstood a series of Lightning shots at the end of the second and beginning of the third before giving up the goal to Point.

Key moment

Anthony Cirelli nearly tied the game for the Lightning during a third-period power play, but his shot hit the top of the crossbar and bounced out.

Key stat

The Panthers spent more than 10 minutes on the penalty kill and did not allow a power-play goal.

Up next

Tampa Bay hosts Columbus on Tuesday, and the Panthers host Columbus on Thursday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl