Florida Panthers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers v. Lightning Game 2: Lomberg Out, Lorentz In

Originally posted on Florida Hockey Now | By Colby Guy | Last updated 4/23/24

FORT LAUDERDALE — Ryan Lomberg will be out of the lineup for the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning due to illness.

Steven Lorentz will replace Lomberg on Florida’s fourth line.

Lorentz earned this opportunity after finding himself on the outside of the lineup looking in for long stretches during the regular season.

Jonah Gadjovich held down that role before trade deadline acquisitions Kyle Okposo and Vladimir Tarasenko created an even bigger log jam up front.

But he proved himself when he got his chance when injuries and illnesses plagued the Panthers down the stretch.

“It says a lot,” coach Paul Maurice said of Lorentz’s willingness to stay in the fight down the stretch.

“When we’re talking about players who don’t have a five-year deal, they have an opportunity to become disenfranchised. So when we [traded for] them, they thought, ‘hey, great opportunity.’ And then they’re in and out of the lineup when guys got healthy. And then he had a long stretch where he didn’t play.

“For him to do what he did to stay in the fight, come to practice hard, work hard every day, … good on him. He made the decision to give himself another chance.”

— The Panthers will have no other lineup changes.

— The starting goalies: Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy.

— Tampa Bay did not have a morning skate on Tuesday. Despite having a couple of players miss Monday’s practice for maintenance, the Lightning is expected to have the same lineup for Game 2 as well.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (WC1) VS. FLORIDA PANTHERS (ATL1)

PANTHERS LEAD BEST-OF-7 SERIES 1-0

GAME 2

When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
Local TV/National TV/Streaming: Bally Sports Florida/ESPN2/ESPN+
Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM
Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL app
Local Betting Odds — Panthers Favored: Money Line (-175); Puck line (-1.5, +135); Over/Under 5.5 (-130/+105). Series Florida -425
First Round (Panthers Lead 1-0) — Game 1: Panthers 3, Lightning 2 (Sunday); Game 2: Tuesday at Florida, 7:30 (BSF, ESPN2); Game 3: Thursday at Tampa Bay, 7 (BSF, TBS); Game 4: Saturday Ap. 27 at Tampa Bay, 5 (BSF, TBS, TruTV); Game 5*: Monday Ap. 29 at Florida, TBA (BSF, TBA); Game 6*: Wednesday May 1 at Tampa Bay, TBA (BSF, TBA); Game 7*: Saturday May 4 at Florida, TBA (BSF, TBA). (*) — If necessary
2023-24 Regular Season Series (Panthers Won 2-1) — At Tampa Bay: Panthers 3, Lightning 2 (Dec. 27); Panthers 9, Lightning 2 (Feb. 17). At Florida: Lightning 5, Panthers 3 (March 16).
All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 77-51-19, 10 ties
All-Time Postgame Series: Lightning Leads 2-0 (2021 first-round, 2022 ECS)