Panthers coach Paul Maurice and Lightning coach Jon Cooper have much in common besides having their names etched onto the Stanley Cup and residing in Florida. They're both savvy in how they deal with media. They're both masters of dry humor. And they don't mind being on the receiving end of a light-hearted jab.

Without suspended winger Brandon Hagel in the lineup, the Tampa Bay Lightning stormed back to defeat the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Saturday, cutting their deficit in this Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1 on the strength of five unanswered goals.

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are set to clash in Game 4 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series on April 28, 2025. The Panthers lead the series 2-1, having won the first two games.