The Tampa Bay Lightning continued its run to the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday night — and helped their old pals, the Florida Panthers, in the process.
The Lightning won for the seventh time in eight games by dropping the visiting Boston Bruins 3-1.
With the win, the Lightning pulled within three points of the idle Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic.
As for the Panthers, they remain two points back of Boston for the Atlantic lead — and now have two games in hand on the Bruins.
Florida has 10 games left.
On Wednesday, Brayden Point broke a 1-1 tie at 6:50 of the second period and the Lightning did not give up the lead again. Nikita Kucherov got his 42nd of the season into an empty net to end things.
The Bruins could have clinched a spot in the playoffs with the win — and also would have jumped the Rangers and Dallas for first place in the NHL standings.
Speaking of the Panthers, Florida is back home tonight and will go in the Way Back Machine to celebrate the 2010s against the Islanders.
Spencer Knight is tossing shutouts in Charlotte, while Uvis Balinskis returns to the Checkers meaning Aaron Ekblad likely returns against New York.
Florida will punch its ticket to the playoffs with a win tonight.
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