The Florida Panthers eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a closely contested Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, asserting their dominance in the rivalry with a 6-3 victory. Coach Jon Cooper admitted that the pendulum has swung in favor of the Panthers, acknowledging their rise as serious contenders after losing to them last year. Despite the Lightning's repeated playoff success in the past, the current series showcased the Panthers' prowess in closely contested games. Tampa Bay players expressed disappointment yet recognized the improved competitiveness of both teams in the rivalry's evolution.
"It was our turn for a while. Now it's theirs," said coach Jon Cooper, acknowledging the shift in dominance between the Panthers and the Lightning in playoff history.
"The games were close. They found ways to win. We didn't," Tampa Bay forward Nick Paul summarized the disparity in execution in the playoff series.
"There are only a few teams in the last little while that really know how to [win]. We were one of them, and now they're one of them," Cooper reflected on the competitive nature of both teams.
"It was the same result as last year, but it felt different this year," Victor Hedman expressed the frustration after another series loss, hinting at the competitive closeness of the matchups.
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