The Comeback Cats Did It Again! Panthers Score Two Late Goals In 11 Seconds To Go Up 3-1 Over Tampa Bay

Last night’s hockey game in South Florida was electric. It wasn’t great when the Lightning scored two goals in just eleven seconds, but it was awesome when the Panthers did the exact same thing in the final three and a half minutes of the third period. Two goals. Eleven seconds. Absolute madness. That’s what playoff hockey is all about. And honestly? The only thing better than playoff hockey is the Playoff Panthers.

I wish every South Florida team had the same edge, grit, and swagger as the Florida Panthers. They play with attitude. They’re flat out bullies. And frankly, we don’t have enough bully teams down here, but we’ve got the biggest one in all of sports. Call them dirty if you want. I don’t care. I like bullies. Bullies win. Pussies lose.

Was Ekblad’s hit on Hagel dirty? Probably. But do you think anyone in that Panthers locker room gives a fuck after what Hagel pulled on Barkov? Not a chance. This team lives and dies for each other. That’s what makes them so dangerous in the playoffs. I may not be a puck expert, but I know locker rooms, I know toughness, and this team has both.

Most teams would have folded after that Lightning flurry early on. But not the Panthers. They fought. They believed. And as Brad Marchand said, “Belief is a dangerous thing.” We believed, and it showed. Now we’ve got a 3-1 series lead over Tampa, and the pressure is all on them.

Speaking of Marchand, can we just take a second to appreciate how awesome it is seeing him out there with Tkachuk and Bennett? I used to hate Marchand with every fiber of my being. Now? I love the guy. He’s the heart of this team. Watching those three cause chaos shift after shift is pure beauty. I still can’t believe Boston let him come to us, but thank you, Bruins. Truly.

This Panthers team has it all: skill, heart, nastiness, and that intangible “it” factor that shows up when it matters most. They’re built for the postseason. Built to make a run. 

And built to send the little brother Lightning packing.

One more to go. Let’s close it out and send Tampa home for good.