Panthers 3 - 4 Lightning
Final
  for this game

Bolts take down Panthers with late Callahan strike

Mar 25, 2015 - 4:03 AM Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Callahan notched the deciding marker with 2:28 left in regulation as Tampa Bay tied a franchise record with its 46th win of the season, thanks to a 4-3 triumph over Florida on Tuesday.

Brenden Morrow, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov scored for the Lightning, winners of four straight and eight of 11 in March.

"Can't rely on one line or a couple guys," said Callahan. "You have to have everybody."

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33-of-36 shots for the victory.

Jussi Jokinen, Brandon Pirri and Jonathan Huberdeau tallied for the Panthers, who were coming off key home victories against Detroit and Boston to stay alive in the race for the final playoff berth in the East.

Roberto Luongo took the loss after making 21 saves.

"Bottom line, I just need to be better," Luongo said.

Alex Killorn had the puck along the left-wing boards and shuttled it behind Luongo for a charging Callahan, who reversed course to move away from the check of Florida's Erik Gudbranson, skated back out in front on the left side and scored to the far side.

Morrow followed up a J.T. Brown shot and knocked a puck off Luongo's skate blade and in from the left post at 5:49 of the first period.

Callahan picked off an errant clearing pass in the Panthers' zone then fed Johnson for a one-timer on the left wing and the Bolts led 2-0 at 7:47.

Jokinen and Pirri struck within an 18-second span before seven minutes elapsed in the second period, and Huberdeau gave the Panthers a 3-2 edge when he followed up his own rebound and scored from the slot at 8:14.

Kucherov evened things again after just 90 seconds of the third.

Game Notes

These long-time division rivals conclude the season series on March 28 in Tampa ... The Lightning also won 46 games in their Stanley Cup-winning campaign of 2003-04 as well as 2010-11 and last season ... Florida failed to gain ground in the race for the final wild-card spot in the East, remaining five points back of Ottawa.






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