Desperation is what makes teams on the brink of elimination dangerous. It’s what can lead to series changing moments, something the Tampa Bay Lightning is well-versed in—both positively and negatively. Monday night’s 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers showed how desperate Tampa Bay’s intrastate rival was to keep their season alive, and the Lightning failed to meet that desperation.
“We’re trying to close out the series, and they’re trying to extend it,” center Brayden Point said. “Both teams should be desperate here. I thought they were more tonight. We’ve got to be better in Game 6. We’ve got to bring that intensity.