Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1, Game 3: Florida Panthers 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 3

The Florida Panthers are one win away from taking their opening-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against their in-state rival.

The Panthers won Game 3 of the best-of-7 series against the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday at Amalie Arena to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Game 4 is at 5 p.m. Saturday in Tampa, and provides Florida a chance to get the second-ever playoff series sweep in franchise history — the other was their Eastern Conference final series win over the Carolina Hurricanes last season.

Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour scored 6:32 apart in the second period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Matthew Tkachuk opened scoring in the first period and capped it with an empty-netter. Steven Lorentz then scored in the third for the eventual game-winning goal.

Steven Stamkos and Tyler Motte scored in the opening three minutes of the second period to give the Lightning an early 2-1 lead — their first lead of the entire series — before Florida mounted its comeback. Nicholas Paul got Tampa Bay within a goal with 5:10 left.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves.

Lightning gets within one

Nicholas Paul scored with 5:10 left in regulation on a feed from Anthony Duclair to get the Lightning within a goal, 4-3.

Fourth line adds an insurance goal

The Panthers went up 4-2 with 10:19 left in regulation on a goal by Steven Lorentz.

It’s the second consecutive goal for Florida with the fourth line on the ice.

Nick Cousins and Gustav Forsling had the assists.

Second intermission thoughts

After falling behind for the first time in the series, the Panthers once again showed the poise and composure they have exhibited all series to tie and then take the lead.

Now, they just need a strong 20-minute third period to put the game away.

Also, a shout out to Sergei Bobrovsky, who once again has made a slew of key saves to keep Florida in the game.

Let’s see what the third has in store.

And the Panthers lead again

The momentum has swung back into Florida’s favor.

Brandon Montour put Florida up 3-2 with 3:30 left in the second period by blasting a shot from the point past Andrei Vasilevskiy.

But the shot wouldn’t have happened if not for Florida’s fourth line — Kyle Okposo, Nick Cousins and Steven Lorentz — keeping the puck in the offensive zone.

Lorentz and Okposo got the assists.

Sam Reinhart ties things up for Florida

After the Lightning flat out dominated the first 10 minutes of the second period, Florida managed to slow the momentum 9:58 into the frame when Sam Reinhart scored on a wrist shot from the right circle to tie the game at 2-2.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Brandon Montour got the assists.

For Reinhart, that’s 59 goals on the season (57 in the regular season, two in the playoffs). That’s tied with Pavel Bure for the most in a season in franchise history.

Tampa Bay gets its first lead of the series

It took until 2:56 into the second period of Game 3, but the Tampa Bay Lightning has its first lead in a game of the series.

Tyler Motte beat Bobrovsky from the high slot to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead early in the second period. Tanner Jeannot had the primary assist on the goal.

Lightning ties it early in the second

The Panthers killed off the rest of the penalty to begin the second ... but Steven Stamkos then tied the game seconds later.

It’s a 1-1 game 44 seconds into the second period.

Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov got the assists on Stamkos’ goal — his third overall of the series.

First period thoughts

This was arguably the closest first period of the series. Tampa Bay appeared to have tied it up with about 17 seconds left on an Anthony Cirelli power-play goal but the goal was disallowed after Florida successfully challenged that the Lightning was offside.

The Panthers still have 33 seconds left of a penalty kill to begin the third, which brings up Florida’s main drawback from the first period — it needs to stay out of the penalty box.

Yes, Florida’s penalty killing unit is elite, but so is the Lightning’s power play. If Tampa Bay gets enough opportunities, it will capitalize.

That said, some numbers:

▪ 50 total hits in the first period (26 Tampa Bay, 24 Florida)

▪ 14 blocked shots (seven each)

▪ 21 total shots on goal (11 Florida, 10 Tampa Bay)

Matthew Tkachuk gets things started

For the third time this series, the Panthers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period, with Matthew Tkachuk beating Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side from up close with 9:21 left in the first period.

While Tkachuk finished the play, the entire second line was fantastic on the buildup, with Carter Verhaeghe feeding Anton Lundell behind the net before the puck ultimately got to Tkachuk.

Tkachuk now has four points (two goals, two assists) in the series.

Early penalty kills from the Panthers

No score at the midway point of the first period and the game has been pretty even in the opening 10-and-a-half minutes. The Panthers have the early edge in shots on goal, 7-6, and had a nice effort on both of their penalty kills after Kyle Okposo was sent to the box for high-sticking Darren Raddysh and then Brandon Montour got called for hooking.

Overall, Florida is 8 for 10 on the penalty kill in the series.

Oh, and there are already 30 hits.

Lineups and other early notables

With Ryan Lomberg still out due to illness and Sam Bennett out for at least a week with an apparent hand/wrist injury, the Florida Panthers’ forward lines are changing once again.

Anton Lundell will move up to the second line to center Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. Kevin Stenlund as a result will move up to center the third line with Eetu Luostarinen and Evan Rodrigues on the wings.

Florida’s fourth line will now have Steven Lorentz at center with Kyle Okposo and Nick Cousins on the wings.

For Okposo, who is in his 17th NHL season, this will be his first playoff since May 8, 2016.

“He’ll be fired up,’’ Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of Okposo. “Your appreciation for the game grows as you get older. I don’t think most players, as they get older, don’t get more cynical. They appreciate it. He had this smile that I cannot describe. He is very excited about this, he will relish this opportunity. He is a serious pro, a very detailed guy. He will be wired into the game, but he understands that there are not 15 more seasons of playoffs ahead of him, this is something he needs to enjoy.’’

Some other quick notables:

▪ Forward Vladimir Tarasenko is playing in his 100th career NHL playoff game.

▪ Lomberg did travel to Tampa Bay and could be available for Game 4 on Saturday.

Pregame reading

Need to catch up ahead of Game 3? Here’s what the Miami Herald published over the past couple days.

▪ Want a lesson in clutch? Sergei Bobrovsky and Carter Verhaeghe can teach you a thing or two.

▪ Speaking of Bobrovsky, did you see that save in Game 2? (You know the one we’re talking about)

▪ From columnist Greg Cote: Panthers’ 2-0 series lead on Tampa Bay should have the Lightning in panic mode.