Tampa’s Preseason Flex Extends to 5-0 Start with Rivalry Win

The Hook

Sure, it’s “just preseason.” But tell that to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, who spent Tuesday night treating their exhibition clash like a midseason grudge match. Rivalries don’t care about the calendar, and this one came with some extra juice: Tampa chasing history, Florida trying to stop them, and a crowd that definitely forgot this technically doesn’t count. In the end, it was Tampa Bay flexing their depth and discipline to grind out a 3–2 win — and with it, the best preseason start in franchise history at 5-0.

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Game Flow: Defense, Drama, and Just Enough Offense

The Lightning wasted no time reminding Florida whose state this is. Midway through the first, Oliver Bjorkstrand sniped a power play goal, with Darren Raddysh and Gage Goncalves helping set the table. For a Tampa squad looking for answers on special teams after last year’s inconsistencies, that early conversion was exactly the kind of preseason test drive you want to see.

But, of course, the Panthers weren’t about to let their in-state rivals steal all the shine. Just four minutes later, MacKenzie Entwistle answered back, sliding one past Jonas Johansson off helpers from Wilmer Skoog and Marek Alscher. Call it a momentum reset, call it preseason rust — either way, it set up the grind of a second period that had “next goal wins the vibe” stamped all over it.

That next goal? Belonged to Conor Geekie, who went solo mode with an unassisted strike at the 11:00 mark of the second. Less than 30 seconds later, Jakob Pelletier doubled the damage, capitalizing on slick work from Max Crozier and Emil Lilleberg. Just like that, Tampa had flipped the game from a chess match to a two-goal cushion, and Florida looked like they’d been sucker-punched.

The Panthers did claw back early in the third — Ryan McAllister cutting the deficit to 3-2 on a setup from Skoog (yes, again) and Jake Livingstone. But Johansson held firm the rest of the way, and Tampa’s penalty kill and defensive structure locked things down like they’d been playing for points.

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The Standouts

• Conor Geekie: The kid made himself impossible to ignore. That unassisted goal wasn’t just a pretty finish; it was a glimpse at why Tampa brought him into the fold. Aggressive, opportunistic, confident — all words you want attached to a 20-year-old forward fighting for more NHL reps.
• Oliver Bjorkstrand: New jersey, same impact. Power play snipes don’t just happen, and his first-period finish gave Tampa instant momentum. For a team that needs every ounce of scoring depth, Bjorkstrand’s fit looks seamless.
• Jonas Johansson: The numbers don’t scream “Vezina night” (17 saves on 19 shots, .895 save percentage), but what he did do was settle in after the early Entwistle goal and shut the door when the game tightened. Tampa doesn’t need him to be a superhero; they need reliability. Check that box.
• Wilmer Skoog (Florida): If there was a Panther who refused to fade into preseason wallpaper, it was Skoog. Two assists, constant involvement, and a motor that kept Florida from completely folding.

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The Turning Point

Pelletier’s lightning-fast follow-up to Geekie’s goal was the dagger Florida never fully recovered from. Two goals in under 30 seconds is the hockey equivalent of getting dunked on and then immediately giving up a fast-break three — it’s demoralizing, it’s chaotic, and it makes the margin for error razor thin. Florida did pull within one, but mentally they never seemed to climb all the way back.

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Stats That Actually Mattered

• Shots on Goal: Tampa out-shot Florida 29–19. It wasn’t just volume — it was control. This Lightning team dictated tempo, especially in the middle frame.
• Special Teams: Lightning cashed in on 20% of their power plays, Panthers went 0-for. Rivalries are often decided by special teams, and this night was no different.
• Penalty Minutes: Florida racked up 17 PIMs to Tampa’s 11. Undisciplined play gave the Bolts chances they didn’t waste.
• Franchise First: The 5-0 preseason start is the best in Tampa Bay’s history. The last time they even sniffed it was 2013 when they started 4-0.

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The Bigger Picture

Does preseason perfection guarantee anything come April? Absolutely not. But context matters. Tampa Bay isn’t just piling up meaningless Ws — they’re getting reps for young talent, building special teams confidence, and reasserting their identity as a team that doesn’t blink when things get tense.

On the flip side, Florida’s 2-3 preseason start isn’t panic-worthy, but the sloppy penalties and inability to sustain pressure should at least raise an eyebrow. If you’re going to lose to your rival, fine. If you’re going to hand them history on a platter, that stings a little extra.

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The Vibes Check

The Lightning looked like a team that doesn’t care what the calendar says — the rivalry is the rivalry. Fans felt it, the bench felt it, and the scoreboard reflected it. Geekie’s breakout moment and Bjorkstrand’s power play strike will fuel hype, but the real story is how buttoned-up Tampa’s system looked.

For Florida, it’s back to the drawing board. They get another shot Thursday in Tampa, where the Bolts will be chasing an unprecedented 6-0 start. Call it preseason, call it trivial, but make no mistake: that next matchup has receipts written all over it.

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Final Take

Rivalries make preseason games feel like playoff previews, and this one had just enough spice to matter. Tampa Bay didn’t just beat Florida; they announced themselves as a team that can develop youth, lean on veterans, and still out-discipline a rival. The Panthers will get their chance to punch back, but for now, it’s Lightning fans who get to walk into October with bragging rights — and a preseason record book that just got rewritten.

If this is “just preseason,” then pass the popcorn for Thursday. Because if this is the warm-up, the real show is going to be electric.

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