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On one side of South Florida, the Miami Heat did what they never do Monday night.
They broke.
On the other side of town, the Florida Panthers did what has come to define them playoff after playoff. They kept believing, kept charging, to the point of scoring two goals in 11 seconds in Game 4’s third period to reclaim control of their playoff series in a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
If ever there was a moment that underlined where things stand in our sports town, of the torch that’s passed, Monday night was it.
Let’s face it, we love winners in South Florida and covet championships, and the Panthers are all we got right now.
The Dolphins tread water. The Marlins aren’t in the picture. The Heat remain the gold standard of the past few decades, and there’s every reason to think team president Pat Riley will figure how to move on from this season sabotaged by Jimmy Butler’s exit. But there’s no insurance on that.
The Panthers are this stretch of time’s hope for more champagne showers and shared cigars. Monday said why. That chaotic third period showed how.
“It was one of those games that doesn’t have a normal ending,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said.
The night, and maybe the series, was moving away from them. They gave up two goals to Tampa in 11 seconds to trail 2-1 in the second period. They faced a five-minute Tampa Bay power play after a top defenseman, Niko Mikkola, was ejected for a bad hit early in the third period.
Aaron Ekblad scored a tying goal that was properly overturned by offsides.
“That was a kick in the teeth,” coach Paul Maurice said.
So much was working against them, but Brad Marchand realized something about this team he just joined in March after 17 years in Boston.
“The one thing you notice is the level of calm all around,” said Marchand, who had two assists Monday night. “That’s what you see. These are the moments you embrace and enjoy in playoff times.”
What happened defines these Panthers. Ekblad tied it up — and this one counted. Eleven seconds later — this game had the two quickest scores in NHL playoff history — Seth Jones then threw a shot at the net. It pinged off a Tampa Bay skate, fluttered under the arm of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and eased over the goal line for a 3-2 lead.
Just like that, they weren’t losing back-to-back home games and returning to Tampa in a 2-2 series.
They lead 3-1 in the series now. They’re one more win from advancing. They had the kind of night that hardens the idea they can repeat as champions.
“When you play against this team, they had a swagger and a belief where they just kept coming at you,” Marchand said. “It doesn’t matter what happened in the game. They believed in their system, and each other, and kept coming.
“When you get in the room and you see the way they’re coached, and the way they work on an every day basis, it all makes sense. It’s an incredible room to be a part of.”
Two springs ago, the Panthers and the Heat were in their respective final series. Neither won. That didn’t matter. It was a rare, shared moment.
Last spring, Panthers had the stage to themselves after the Heat fell early in the playoffs and won their first Stanley Cup title. That was new and different.
This spring it’s not new or different.
On one side of Monday night, the Heat’s offseason couldn’t start quickly enough. They were mopped up by Cleveland, 138-83, in as humbling a playoff sweep as there is.
“There’s going to be a lot of changes this summer, knowing how the guy with the silver hair works,” center Bam Adebayo said.
How much can Riley do this summer?
The Panthers are the hope now. They’re the organization with everything clicking. They had the kind of win Monday night that great endings have. There’s a long way to go. But chill the champagne and keep the cigars ready. They’re all we got right now.
Panther fans during Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers Sam Reinhart during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers Carter Verhaeghe during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Pre game warm up as Florida Panthers takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Pre game warm up as Florida Panthers takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Panther fans during Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 9Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Expand
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They broke.
On the other side of town, the Florida Panthers did what has come to define them playoff after playoff. They kept believing, kept charging, to the point of scoring two goals in 11 seconds in Game 4’s third period to reclaim control of their playoff series in a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
If ever there was a moment that underlined where things stand in our sports town, of the torch that’s passed, Monday night was it.
Let’s face it, we love winners in South Florida and covet championships, and the Panthers are all we got right now.
The Dolphins tread water. The Marlins aren’t in the picture. The Heat remain the gold standard of the past few decades, and there’s every reason to think team president Pat Riley will figure how to move on from this season sabotaged by Jimmy Butler’s exit. But there’s no insurance on that.
The Panthers are this stretch of time’s hope for more champagne showers and shared cigars. Monday said why. That chaotic third period showed how.
“It was one of those games that doesn’t have a normal ending,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said.
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The night, and maybe the series, was moving away from them. They gave up two goals to Tampa in 11 seconds to trail 2-1 in the second period. They faced a five-minute Tampa Bay power play after a top defenseman, Niko Mikkola, was ejected for a bad hit early in the third period.
Aaron Ekblad scored a tying goal that was properly overturned by offsides.
“That was a kick in the teeth,” coach Paul Maurice said.
So much was working against them, but Brad Marchand realized something about this team he just joined in March after 17 years in Boston.
“The one thing you notice is the level of calm all around,” said Marchand, who had two assists Monday night. “That’s what you see. These are the moments you embrace and enjoy in playoff times.”
What happened defines these Panthers. Ekblad tied it up — and this one counted. Eleven seconds later — this game had the two quickest scores in NHL playoff history — Seth Jones then threw a shot at the net. It pinged off a Tampa Bay skate, fluttered under the arm of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and eased over the goal line for a 3-2 lead.
Just like that, they weren’t losing back-to-back home games and returning to Tampa in a 2-2 series.
They lead 3-1 in the series now. They’re one more win from advancing. They had the kind of night that hardens the idea they can repeat as champions.
“When you play against this team, they had a swagger and a belief where they just kept coming at you,” Marchand said. “It doesn’t matter what happened in the game. They believed in their system, and each other, and kept coming.
“When you get in the room and you see the way they’re coached, and the way they work on an every day basis, it all makes sense. It’s an incredible room to be a part of.”
Two springs ago, the Panthers and the Heat were in their respective final series. Neither won. That didn’t matter. It was a rare, shared moment.
Last spring, Panthers had the stage to themselves after the Heat fell early in the playoffs and won their first Stanley Cup title. That was new and different.
This spring it’s not new or different.
On one side of Monday night, the Heat’s offseason couldn’t start quickly enough. They were mopped up by Cleveland, 138-83, in as humbling a playoff sweep as there is.
“There’s going to be a lot of changes this summer, knowing how the guy with the silver hair works,” center Bam Adebayo said.
How much can Riley do this summer?
The Panthers are the hope now. They’re the organization with everything clicking. They had the kind of win Monday night that great endings have. There’s a long way to go. But chill the champagne and keep the cigars ready. They’re all we got right now.
Panther fans during Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers Sam Reinhart during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers Carter Verhaeghe during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Pre game warm up as Florida Panthers takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Pre game warm up as Florida Panthers takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Panther fans during Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers game 4 of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 9Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during game 4 against Tampa Bay Lightning of the Eastern Conference at Amerant Bank Aren)a in Sunrise on Monday April 28, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Expand
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