The Panthers won just two of 23 games they played when they trailed through two periods this regular season, tied with the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks for the second-fewest comeback wins in the league. Only the New Jersey Devils, with one win in 27 tries when trailing after 40 minutes, had fewer such wins.

Following their five-minute kill in Game 4, the Panthers went on to score a pair of goals within a span of just 11 seconds late in regulation to go ahead 3-2 in an eventual 4-2 win. Fittingly, it was two of the team’s top killers – Ekblad and Jones – that scored the back-to-back goals.

Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones scored third-period goals 11 seconds apart and the Florida Panthers stormed from behind to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.

The Panthers will defend their home court in Game 5 on Wednesday and the Stars will travel to Colorado for Game 6 on Thursday.

Anthony Cirelli #71 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fights against Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers at the end of the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025