Tyler Johnson broke a tie on a power play midway through the third period to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Sunday.
Yanni Gourde and Brayden Point each had a goal and an assist, Alex Killorn and Mathieu Joseph also scored, and Curtis McElhinney stopped 29 shots to improve to 3-3 1. The Lightning opened a four-point lead over Florida in the Central Division standings.
Patric Hornqvist, Carter Verhaeghe and Gustav Forsling scored for Florida, Aleksander Barkov had two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 shots.
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Alex Killorn (17) gets off a shot on Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 21, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)
Johnson drove down to tap in pass from Gourde to make it 4-3. Point added an empty-netter with 14.3 seconds left.
SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
The game marked the fifth time the state rivals faced each other while holding down first and second place in the division through at least 15 games. In happened twice in 2015-16 and twice in 2003-04.
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ross Colton (79) takes down Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau (11) as defenseman Keith Yandle (3) gets involved during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 21, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Colton was penalized for roughing. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)
MAC SHUT DOWN
Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh left after the first period with an undisclosed lower-body injury and did not return. McDonagh’s final shift ended with 21 seconds remaining in the period.
UP NEXT
Panthers: At Chicago on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Lightning: At Dallas on Tuesday and Thursday nights.