Carter Verhaeghe scored on a backhander 2:59 into overtime as the Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Game 2 of a first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. Game

Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg will miss Game 2 against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday due to illness, coach Paul Maurice announced. Steven Lorentz will draw into the lineup for the Panthers, who posted a 3-2 win over

The Florida Panthers are 5-1 in NHL playoffs series in which they have won the opener. That bodes well for Florida, which will play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night in Sunrise. Florida leads the best-of-seven series

Carter Verhaeghe scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period as the host Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in the opening of their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series at Sunrise, Fla. Game 2 is set for Tuesday,

In theory, winning the NHL’s Atlantic Division should have given the Florida Panthers an “easier” first-round playoff opponent. But, if history is any judge, that hardly is the case. The Panthers will open an Eastern Conference first-round series against the