Lightning on their way to NHL history with dominate series over the Panthers
The Tampa Bay Lightning have swept the Florida Panthers out of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Panthers came into the postseason as President's Trophy winners for the best team in the NHL during the regular season, but the Lightning showed them how it's done in the playoffs. The sweep was more than just four straight wins, though; it was an absolutely dominating performance by the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.
Not only that, but the Lightning also became just the third franchise in NHL history to win at least 10 consecutive playoff series. They join the New York Islanders, who had 19 from 1980 to 1984, and the Montreal Canadiens, who had 13 from 1976 to 1980. Tampa Bay hasn't lost a series since being swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets as the President's Trophy winners in 2018-19.
With a 2-0 win in game four against Florida, the Lightning handed the Panthers their first shutout all season long and the first since Tampa Bay shut them out in game six of the first round during last year's playoffs. They also held the NHL's highest-scoring team to just three goals the entire series.
Really impressive stuff from the Lightning.
