Reviewing Lightning vs Panthers Game One

The Battle of Florida lived up to the hype today.
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[@BarkovFan16]

Now this was definitely playoff hockey! Let’s go Panthers!!

[@f.n04]

This should be the best series of the round

[@jonasgorea3823]

I see a lot of ppl complaining about the refs. Im a lightning fan but i honestly thought aside from the slash and interference on kuch it was a shockingly kinda clean game from both. Yes there were missed calls but that always happens. The panthers clamped tampa’s top line like i have never seen (until the third period) which is the reason why they lost.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Every single playoff game features fans complaining about the officials. Apparently there's never been a well called playoff game.

[@jerry9101]

@@TheHockeyGuyno literally hahaha

[@erikschuster4293]

​@TheHockeyGuy it's a rule, if they aren't all perfect, none of them are

[@user-dl3uo3we2z]

Dumba with clean hit ,gets knocked to his butt, a few secs later, no Interference call Holding call a minute later against TB You can say they will call the holds, hooks let the hitting, facewashes well after the whistle go( ie hard nose hockey playoffs) Think tha made 4-1 pp for Fla at the time....gave them the big 2 goal lead Having said all that Fla really skated hard defended well ,backchecked TB really well.TB has to be better

[@teapea8184]

Only thing that gets me is the inconsistency in officiating. The last minute penalty was out of line compared to other happenings in the game. Granted ref probs thought it wouldn't matter in the grand scheme so he gave it.

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

IF Tampa is the lightning and Florida is the panthers does that make this the Thunder cats series? I'll take my leave...

[@PieInSkyGuy]

Lol. Snarf,Snarf

[@doctorcane]

heyuck hiyuck hiyuck

[@EEE80]

Barkov is so good in defense

[@Jaageful]

...and he got couple of points passing the puck while doing that.

[@WFM]

Give him the selke already

[@casewojo6186]

I thought he had a rough game in the defense category. However, he’s so subtle I probably missed like 12 amazing defensive plays.

[@LFG_Cats]

@@casewojo6186 Like a true Panther, he saw 10 of your subtle moves before you even noticed him, lol. He is definitely not as explosive as he's been in years past, but he certainly has had more impact on the outcome of the games.

[@casewojo6186]

@@LFG_Cats I’m a Wings fan also, he reminds me of Datsyuk with his subtlety. Panthers are such a fun team. Became a fan regular season last year. Now we have Lyon and he almost helped us get a playoff berth.

[@thomascook3734]

Great game by both teams Go Cats , Hockey South is real with Bolts Panthers, and Canes..

[@TracyJean1972]

Dallas would like to have a word here.

[@LFG_Cats]

@@TracyJean1972 Nah!

[@LFG_Cats]

Minus the canes.

[@doctorcane]

aren't you guys more southwest now? Like with Utah and ...well, no one else I can think of really, until AZ comes back on.

[@craigerickson6308]

Just as expected from both teams,tight checking,good goal tending not many big mistakes. GG Cats.

[@OWlsfordshire]

Finally, 2 real hockey teams playing a series.

[@awwwshucks443]

❤

[@brianhobaugh]

I didn’t know the other teams weren’t real!

[@goldfingershat]

Everyone knows the only REAL hockey gets played in Florida!

[@choppergunner8650]

​@@brianhobaugh leafs definitely do not play real hockey

[@LFG_Cats]

@@choppergunner8650 Burn!

[@yotakev99]

I was at this game and it was crazy, the crowd was really engaged because of how competitive the game was

[@PieInSkyGuy]

And the fact that there was an actual crowd there this time……..

[@LFG_Cats]

@@PieInSkyGuy Love how people still beat this dead horse...... haven't paid attention to Panthers hockey over the last 5 years huh? Tell me you know nothing about hockey in south FL without telling me you know nothing about hockey in south FL.

[@PieInSkyGuy]

@@LFG_Cats apparently, I know waaaaaay more than you. You just demonstrated that. A bunch of hand wringing but no refutation. Typical vapid responses

[@LFG_Cats]

@@PieInSkyGuy Wow big words!

[@PieInSkyGuy]

@@LFG_Cats too big for you junior

[@gordonmacdowell8117]

Game one was what you tune into the playoffs to see. Solid goaltending, ferocious puck pressure, and both teams clearly chose violence for the first round. There were a few soft calls both ways, made more strange considering what wasn't called, but that's NHL officiating for you.

[@that_guy0_0]

No surprise as a Tampa fan

[@Improbi]

Shannon don't be scared to cranking up your mike's volume. You're barely audible even at full volume. The volume is loud when your videos are interrupted by ads or when I switch to another channels' videos.

[@NickBrengle]

Volume is good. might be your speakers? All the ads push their DBs through the roof.

[@richardthacker6]

Exactly the game I expected. High energy and physical. The bad calls or non calls is just part of it, move on. Love my Panthers and how they really clamp down when they have a lead. Still a lot of hockey to play.

[@justinmiller5660]

yes, bad calls and non calls are part of it. the problem is when the refs "miss" a hook in front of the net on Sam B. or that tampa had 7 guys on the ice with the puck 5 feet from the bench. but they are going to call a crosscheck that happened behind the play with less than 2 min to play. it makes it seem like the refs were trying to give tampa a life line.

[@ZachBarger]

​@justinmiller5660 we still got the W and really dominated the majority of that game in pretty much every facet. We keep playing like we did today, and I'm not worried about the refs.

[@justinmiller5660]

@@ZachBarger I'm not worried either. It's just frustrating when the standard of calls changes depending on who is getting the penalty.

[@richardthacker6]

@@ZachBarger 💯

[@donaldlaegel782]

I still cant believe that Tampa calls their best player Cooch. Lol, go Cats. Amerant was amazing last night and will be again Tuesday, cant wait to be there again. Everblades on Wed, Fri and Sat going for a Kelly Cup 3 peat. Hockey in South Florida is on fire!

[@Bill_772]

Thanks!

[@skewbydoom]

Super evenly matched

[@casewojo6186]

For now. I think Florida runs away with it though.

[@mathiassnallstrom3895]

Love your videos! Would be really lovely if you could post the blocks for each team as well in the playoffs.

[@ZykoMike]

LET'S GO CATS! Strong start to this series. Excited for Game 2

[@LFG_Cats]

I'll be representing in Tampa!

[@dennis2376]

Thank you.

[@pamelaabrell8394]

Love that sweater, Shannon.

[@kh4l3dhi]

Go Cats Go

[@Bill_772]

I love your show. And most importantly your view on all the teams as in you don’t hate any of them really opened my eyes. Because there is guys on each team I enjoy watching.

[@jacquelineheimburg9600]

“I don’t blame them.” BOB.

[@awwwshucks443]

Go cats!

[@SoFlaSooner]

Excellent game. Just like I would have expected from both teams. Promises to be a classic series. Let's Go Panthers!

[@indianajones5037]

Great game

[@aidan8473]

Man I hope this series goes to 7. What an insane matchup

[@choppergunner8650]

LET'S GOOOOO PANTHERS!!!

[@Deadmanwolfpac93]

Go Cats! Great 60 minutes played, so glad that they have finally learned how to play in the Playoffs. Let’s get number 2 on Tuesday! 💪

[@LFG_Cats]

I'll be there. And notice the stepping stones?..... First round knock out, second round knock out, Stanley cup appearance...... It's our time to raise the cup!

[@psychedalex5906]

Lightning fan, was a fun game honestly, felt like the bolts played terrible and the game was still close which is a good sign in my book

[@ZachBarger]

I'm a Panthers fan and the score really doesn't do justice to how dominant we were that game. But Vasy definitely seems like he's back to form and that's always going to be a problem to have to go up against.

[@timperley69]

Good good game!! Go Panthers!!

[@mincraftisawsome1234]

‘Refs you suck!’ Was chanted in both games I watched yesterday lol

[@RickinBaltimore]

If this is any indication we are in for a great series.

[@TeamKumlaHockey]

You gotta make sure to ensure the collection back there

[@unoriginal7392]

Terrible game by the bolts, but they managed to stay in it at least. Good sign I suppose.

[@kokocaptainqc]

i noticed that everyone holds their sticks thighter too in all series because it seems that in most clean chances so far the guys shoot at the net and dont really aim their shots like they do in the season...its probably the fact that they try to do it the quickest way possible too

[@thebikewatcher9819]

The officiating is always lambasted (right, wrong, or indifferent) that's never going to change. With that said congratulations on taking game 1 Florida. Though I absolutely can't stand the Panthers franchise, I love that because of your recent successful seasons, the battle in Florida has become a legitimate rivalry.

[@mgourley1234]

Excellent game. Tampa needs to solve for getting in the O zone and getting set up.

[@casewojo6186]

Forecheck or speed addresses that. They don’t have speed other than duclair so they need a harder forecheck.

[@guyami8892]

Surprised the refs didn't just randomly give Tkachuk a 10 minute penalty and a game misconduct for no discernible reason again.

[@justjohnny420]

First game of 2024 playoffs and still whining about 2023 playoffs 😂

[@mincraftisawsome1234]

Bro time to move on lol

[@tpd1399]

Tampa had 6 or 7 guys on the ice 😂 remember all the Stanley Cup crying

[@dennislopez1272]

It was 7 guys on the Ice. These refs are an embarrassment.

[@puckpuff8719]

I know it was a short segment, but I don't think that "longtime superfan" intro did THG justice!

[@averagestegosaurus2000]

As for someone that have never been to a 1000+ hockey game, is it almost only the goalies that get the crowd chants?

[@marklinnick2082]

Fast game with lots of momentum swings

[@Tiax776]

Dallas Stars - Florda Panthers finals? They should use the #1 vs #16 system in the playoffs. It's so boring to have the same teams against each other over and over and over again. Besides, what if, let's say, NYR and NYI were the two best teams in the league. They would win all the games except against each other. There's no way they can be in the finals. #1 vs #16 would be a much more fair system, in my opinion and it would mean that the chances of having the same matchups year after year would diminish greatly.

[@americangiant1003]

Tiax actually the NHL for a few years between around 1978 and ‘82(someone can correct me on the seasons it was held)did have a format of something similar to your #1 vs #16 and reseed every round until the Cup Finals. However it was scrapped due to the insane cost of flying especially if say it was LA vs Toronto or Edmonton vs Tampa in the 1st couple of rounds. Not to mention in the early ‘80s, the NHL did not have a major US National TV contract at all to subsidize the costs. As compromise I think I would bring back the NBA style #1 vs #8 conference seeding instead.

[@dennislopez1272]

We felt there were too many men on the ice cause there were 7 guys on the ice. One of the ones next to the bench had the puck on his stick. Time to hunt. #GOCATS #VEZINABOB

[@PieInSkyGuy]

I’m afraid for any objective,rational observer, me thinks you complain too much

[@dennislopez1272]

@marcellobessone8124 Seeing as they showed it on freeze frame and counted it on our broadcast, I would say I'm the right one. I like evidence and stuff.

[@PieInSkyGuy]

@@dennislopez1272 I’m more concerned with the non calls, honestly. All I ask? Refs be consistent. Let the best team win

[@dennislopez1272]

@marcellobessone8124 And that was one of the non calls. BTW, that cross-check call on Verhaeghe was an embarrassment. They call that crap but don't call the blatant neck tackle on Bennet in front of the net. I'm all for making the right calls. If you're going to let them play then let them play. If you're going to call ticky tack penalties then do it all game.

[@PieInSkyGuy]

@@dennislopez1272 I appreciate the fact that you are a passionate fan. I really do. Again, if you were to objectively tally the Non Calls, it’s lopsided. Is that the reason the Lightning lost? No. They didn’t play well and, for some reason I can’t explain, they historically play poorly at that noontime game time. The penalty on Lilleburg was the most obvious penalty called this post season and yet, the referee literally standing two feet from him doesn’t call it?? They fumbled around, comically , one of the late game critical faceoffs, blowing dead twice a legitimate exercise. Even the Lightning players were confused. Again, they played poorly but woke up late. That maybe the juice they needed

[@DiO-fy5ex]

They call a ticky tack holding on Perbix and a phantom penalty on Paul, meanwhile panthers were holding and interfering all game which helped their D and the most penalized team in the league picked up only their second penalty after the game had was out of reach. Tough to overcome against a non playoff team.

[@ZombiewilleatU]

I have no horse in this race, but this is promising to be a great series Sometimes it's just fun to follow a series for random teams

[@barx]

For how lifeless Tampa looked in huge swaths of this game, the defense showed up to play for a lot of it. Florida is just hard to contain for a whole period, they're gonna get their looks. The Bolts had their top line effectively shut down which is a bad thing considering how top heavy the team is, you need those guys producing eventually. Execution (and power play opportunities, Wes) will matter a whole lot in this series.

[@joshuaglandon2791]

Tough watch

[@Hockeyhobo89]

I’m sure your cups help

[@awwwshucks443]

​@@Hockeyhobo89salt! 😂

[@ZachBarger]

I'm a Panthers fan and we really did dominate a vast majority of that game. But Vasy looks like he's definitely in great form and that's going to be a problem for us. Really expect every game to be tight this series. One-goal games and OT games galore.

[@mincraftisawsome1234]

Not really that tough yea we didn’t play great, but Florida weren’t all that either imo if we up the intensity in game 2 we’ll level this series.

[@bartphlegar8212]

I think the Eastern Conference winner comes out of this series. Yes, the Rangers are very good, and may very well win it all, but they are what I tend to see as a "cruise control team". These two Florida teams are both gear-jamming, burnout teams that thrive in chaos...

[@jefflarson1652]

Two very good teams. Wasn't as scrummy as most Florida games. Florida had the better of the play. Tampa never out of it with Kucherov and Vasilevskiy.

[@jimmyzarkis6276]

FL learned their lesson, keep that in the regular season, putting Tampa on the power play all game long isn't a good strategy because the game won't be called even.

[@ClashofClansWithKyle]

Think we learned from 2021 playoffs especially to not give Tampa a whole lot of powerplays. That's what has lost us series in the past!

[@choppergunner8650]

Florida learned to not draw too many penalties. They ended up winning ❤

[@jackson2583]

tampa mentioned go bolts :/

[@dennis3351]

Yeees Panthers baby 👍👌 Perhaps if Bruins win series and Boston fans say We want Florida again. The Panthers could then eliminate Bruins again lol. And I am in Bruins' country, however I was a Whalers fan once. 🙂 Also lets go Leafs. You can tell I'm never over my Whalers vs Bruins animosity ha.

[@choppergunner8650]

Whalers love ❤

[@thomaskeery3039]

Refs were soft on Tampa and letting things go on Florida aside from last minute of the game when didn’t matter

[@Wogger72]

Two Russian goalies with a Polish ski at the end! Shifty?

[@casewojo6186]

Go Cats baby. If the cats don’t clean up clearing the zone this is going 7 games. Tampa makes you pay. Otherwise, a solid game.

[@LFG_Cats]

LFG!!!!!!!

[@misterfingerguns]

Battle of Flerda

[@torrencecullen3877]

Let's go BOLTS!⚡⚡⚡

[@LFG_Cats]

Boooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

[@rocksmith3796]

Go cats Go

[@LFG_Cats]

LFG!!!

[@alexkorneev6469]

Whoever trained Tampa to drop the puck in to offensive zone when your net is empty - should be fired immediately

[@comebckkidd7653]

plenty of hockey left bolts in 7⚡️⚡️

[@ChrisyBearTV]

I'm so early there's no sound yet

[@do1bal]

Would you consider turning up your microphone? At full volume, you're hard of hearing. Thanks THG!

[@choppergunner8650]

Maybe it's your headphones? I go deaf if I put his videos in full volume.

[@stoves92]

The lightning were lucky it wasn't a complete blow out the way they played. They better wake up for game two. Go Bolts!

[@tontweer]

No that was actually even closer than the score showed

[@RobDucharme]

Not like you need the additional workload, but I'm curious to see if the Panthers games are selling out in the playoffs, given their history with attendance..

[@ZachBarger]

They definitely are. I went to 4 playoff games last year. South Florida just has too many options for people to spend their entertainment dollar on to not spend it on a winner. I'll always love my Panthers but I definitely understand why people weren't showing up to games from 2002 until about 2018.

[@choppergunner8650]

After 2020, seems like the Panthers' attendance has multiplied exponentially.

[@PieInSkyGuy]

They are terrible fans. Glory chasers. It wouldn’t take long to see the usual 10,000 attendance. They just have to do what they always do, lose. Plus it’s funny seeing all the clout chasers in their pretending they know what penalties are. The ref you suck chant for a common clean play seen 8 times every game proves that they aren’t really hockey fans at all

[@choppergunner8650]

@@PieInSkyGuy least obvious bait

[@PieInSkyGuy]

@@choppergunner8650 I’m sorry, I know the truth hurts your fragile feelings

[@benchow8851]

Panthers sucked for what seemed like 20yrs. Glad they appear to be relevant these days…

[@44Glendon]

Is wifey in all white yet? #GoJetsGo

[@slider903]

That’s one. Fifteen more. Love the defense but don’t do that again Carter.

[@macgobhann8712]

Seeing Tampa fans complain about the refs is poetic justice.

[@andrewsundaresan786]

Bobrovsky is not good against high shots, shots from the blueline, and does not do well on shots blocker side. Teams like Vegas that know this have little problem scoring 4+ goals on this overrated chump.

[@LFG_Cats]

Overrated chump.......LOLOLOLOLOL!! Well if you know it, everyone does. So explain how he wins so damn much pal.

[@TheConspiratorist]

Florida in 3

[@choppergunner8650]

Game 4 will be won by a walkover

[@LFG_Cats]

@@choppergunner8650 Forfeit......LOLOLOL!!!

[@BlakeWheelersBurnerAccount]

I’m like 666 😅😅😅

[@TrueMr.Quinn1]

Playoff level hockey 🏒

[@TonyfromLaSalle]

As an outside watcher who is not a fan of either of these teams, this game was awful hockey. No one was playing. There was just hits and like 2-3 real scoring chances per period. Refs lost the game immediately. Terrible for the game.

[@rhaspados666]

That's playoff hockey

[@TonyfromLaSalle]

@@rhaspados666 BOS/TOR was hard hitting but both teams played hockey. Same for CAR/NYI. I think these teams are just not very good at the game

[@rickyrougs]

might be the worst take ive ever seen

[@TonyfromLaSalle]

@@rickyrougs I’d seek out a larger variety of takes if I were you

[@janituokko3811]

@@TonyfromLaSalle I'm sorry but as a person who watches every day games I cant take you seriously with that statement so yu must be joking right?

[@Andriig75]

First

[@CoasterCheetah]

Unacceptable officiating in this game

[@idawg7332]

Agreed that power play the lightning got at the end was ridiculous refs tried handing them the game

[@CoasterCheetah]

@@idawg7332 huh??? The refs owed the bolts a power play after the several missed interference calls on the panthers

[@OWlsfordshire]

@@CoasterCheetah This is why people complain. The refs always "owe" someone a PP or have to even out the calls. The games are majorly influenced by them, but that's just the way it goes.

[@idawg7332]

Refs missed calls on you guys too. Too many men on the ice, holding lundell and slamming him into the ice by his head. Stop crying about the refs, panthers outshot you by a wide margin. If you didn’t have vasilevskiy you would have looked like the leafs yesterday

[@choppergunner8650]

Bolts fans when the ref does not give them a powerplay: 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@jimmyzarkis6276]

after years of chanting ref you suck and nothing changing you really just stop trying unless its just really bad. That "crosscheck" at the end of the game was total trash. The chants would have come out if it was still 2-1 at that point. So Panthers 3, Bolts 1, Refs 1. The Panthers played playoff hockey. Tampa played not to break and hope for breakaways to avoid having to set up in the zone. Usually that works against FL. 20 shots by the Panthers, no goal. One bad bounce and Tampa is on a 1 man rush and usually those go in. Today they didn't. I am giving Forsling the player of the game. Every time the puck came near him it was taken away and sent right back out of the zone.

[@msniper3907]

🐆🐆🐆 mnau