The Tampa Bay Lightning are officially on the ropes, having lost Game 4 of their Round 1 series against the in-state rival Florida Panthers on Monday, April 28, in Sunrise, Fla.
The Lightning saw their 3-2 lead late in the third period completely evaporate thanks to a pair of Panthers goals in just 11 seconds; both Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones tallied to give the Cats the lead.
Carter Verhaeghe added an empty-net goal with goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on the bench for a sixth attacker.
Lightning Fans Were Angered After Falling Into A 3-1 Series Deficit
Lightning fans were furious at their club after failing to protect their third-period lead, which led to their demise and falling into a 3-1 series deficit. One fan blasted the team as a whole, saying, “No heart, no pride, no guts. Just a sad puddle where a team once stood.”
No heart, no pride, no guts. Just a sad puddle where a team once stood.
— Western Dominion (@WesternDominion) April 29, 2025
Another fan demanded to know what was going on: “How does a team this good suck so badly?!”
Another frustrated fan couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed, saying, “PATHETIC! One of the worst collapses by this team I’ve seen in a LOOOOOONG time.”
One more fan argued they may as well not even play Game 5. “Shocking collapse but honestly don’t bother showing up for game 5. Deck is stacked. Ruin the leagues showpiece by forfeiting in protest.”
Shocking collapse but honestly don't bother showing up for game 5. Deck is stacked. Ruin the leagues showpiece by forfeiting in protest.
— James Thompson (@JT_Spire) April 29, 2025
However, another fan chose to take a different route in his take, saying, “We Lightning fans cannot blame the refs. 1/15 on the power play this series, and we couldn’t score on a 5-minute power play? Forget blowing lead under 4-minutes… That is what happens when you cannot execute when given great opportunities.”
Meanwhile, others were not happy with Vasilevskiy. “From [Conn Smythe Trophy] to ultimate playoff loser in less than 5 years time… The falloff of vasilevsky will need to be studied. Absolute albatross of a player and contract.”
From conn Smythe to ultimate playoff loser in less than 5 years time… The falloff of vasilevsky will need to be studied. Absolute albatross of a player and contract
— Ben (@_BWood12) April 29, 2025
Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who trolled Panthers coach Paul Maurice in a press conference earlier in the series, wasn’t happy about being asked what he felt about the hit by Florida’s Niko Mikkola on Zemgus Girgensons.
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game,” he said. “I’ll ask you. You asked me the question — why are you asking me the question? If anyone in here has anything, stand up and let me know.”
Mikkola could be facing a hearing from the NHL Department of Player Safety after he was ejected for his dangerous hit on Girgensons; he potentially could be ruled ineligible to play in Game 5 on Wednesday, April 30.