Finley scores 1st NHL goal, lifts Lightning past Panthers
It was the first regular-season matchup between the teams since Florida defeated Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference First Round last season, winning the best-of-7 series in five games.
“It felt good getting two points in this building,” Lightning forward Yanni Gourde said.
Finley, playing his seventh NHL game, put the Lightning ahead 2-1 at 4:09. After Curtis Douglas chipped a pass up the middle, Finley scored on a breakaway with a backhand around Bobrovsky at the left post.
“My line has been pretty good the past two games, made a couple good plays out of the D-zone,” Finley said. “I had a breakaway earlier on Bobrovsky and it came out, so I told myself on the bench that if I had another one, I was going to make a move on him. And I actually did. So, it was good. … I don’t think I have ever gotten two breakaways in my life. That happened quick.
“It was great. He’s a great goalie, played great tonight. Both goalies gave their team a chance.”
Of Finley’s goal, Cooper said, “If you’re going to get your first, might as well make it a game-winner. … We need you to finish, and the kid finished. That was a big one.”
Lilleberg gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 12:19 of the first period. Nikita Kucherov fed him in the left face-off circle, where he scored with a wrist shot to the short side.
Marchand tied it 1-1 on the power play at 11:31 of the second period, scoring from the slot with a wrist shot past the glove following a scramble after a face-off in the left circle.
