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Panthers Set Stanley Cup Playoffs Record In Game 4 Win vs. Lightning

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 29, 2025 6:50 AM ET

Game 4 between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning produced one of the wildest sequences of the Stanley Cup Playoffs through Monday and an all-time record.

The game started slowly, with a scoreless first period and the Panthers' Anton Lundell opening the scoring nine minutes into the second period.

After that, however, Game 4 turned into a crazy matchup of bursts featuring two comebacks and four total goals in just 22 seconds of action split into 11-second stints.

Tampa Bay responded to Lundell's quickly with two goals just three minutes after the Panthers broke the deadlock.

Mitchell Chaffee tied the game at 12:21 by finishing a rebound, and just 11 seconds later, Erik Cernak wired a wrist shot past Sergei Bobrovsky to give the Lightning a 2-1 advantage with about half of the game to play.

TWO GOALS IN 11 SECONDS

That's the fastest two goals in @TBLightning #StanleyCup Playoffs history!

: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/m0LyTCHYnH
: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/QwYBh68Tor
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2025

The Lightning carried their lead into the final minutes of the third period and appeared to be on the verge of evening the series at two games apiece.

However, the Panthers launched a furious rally of their own with under four minutes to go.

A pair of quick goals from the blueline helped the @FlaPanthers mount a late comeback and take a 3-1 series lead in the 'Battle of Florida.'#NHLStats: https://t.co/ygb8JbiKjo pic.twitter.com/tJpDTSHjCc
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 29, 2025

Aaron Ekblad kickstarted it by tying the game at 16:13, and 11 seconds later , Seth Jones' point shot deflected off Ryan McDonagh and went in to give Florida a 3-2 lead.

Carter Verhaeghe sealed the 4-2 victory for the Panthers with an empty-net goal at 18:20, putting Florida one win away from advancing to the second round.

NOW IT'S FLORIDA'S TURN

TWO GOALS IN 11 SECONDS HELP THE PANTHERS SECURE A GAME 4 VICTORY! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ugHQ7giWxS
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2025

Following the game, new Panthers forward Brad Marchand reflected on the team’s mindset during the comeback.

“Belief is a dangerous thing, and we had that,” Marchand said. “I don’t think we’re sitting on the bench thinking we’re going back [to Tampa] 2-2. We believe that we can make a play. You’re one shot away at that time.”

The two quick goals by Ekblad and Jones set a new NHL playoff record for the fastest goals scored by defensemen from the same team, eclipsing the previous mark of 16 seconds.

The Lightning now face elimination heading into Game 5 on Wednesday night in Tampa as they need to beat the Panthers three consecutive times to advance.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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