The excitement and momentum the Florida Panthers gave to their comeback in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup First Round dissipated within 30 minutes of Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

The Panthers had lost four goals and changed goalies for the second straight game. But there was no spark this time around, no rally, just a 6-2 loss at Amalie Arena that saw them lose a loss after being knocked out in the Top 7 series against the defending champions. of the Stanley Cup.

“I have all the faith in the world”, Panthers center Sam bennett mentionned. “I believe in this group. It’s a hell of a hockey team. We’re very close. We have some amazing players. My conviction is as high as it was at the start of the series. There is none. problem in there. “

It’s admirable, and the exact state of mind the Panthers need to have to get home for Game 5 on Monday (8 p.m. ET; CNBC, FX-CA, TVAS, BSFL, BSSUN), but they’re wearing so many issues with them across the state.

Video: Kucherov lifts the lights ahead of the Panthers in Game 4

Who is their starting goalie in Game 5?

Sergey Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger each started two games in the series, and each was retired once.

Bobrovsky started Game 4 after relieving Driedger and making nine saves in the third period and extra time in Game 3, a 6-5 victory. Bobrovsky lasted until he allowed his fifth goal on 14 shots at 7:15 of the second period on Saturday.

Driedger came in and allowed one goal on 12 shots, having been relieved by Bobrovsky in Game 3, giving up five goals on 12 shots in the second period.

Beginner Spencer knight, who made his NHL debut on April 20 and was 4-0-0 in the regular season, could be an option.

“We’ll talk about it,” Florida coach Joel Quenneville said. “We are talking about what time we train for tomorrow. We will meet again and look at the options.”

How the Panthers solve the scorching power play of the Lightning, who when healthy has options all over the ice, including the defender Victor hedman That much, Nikita Kucherov in the right circle, Steven stamkos in the left circle, Brayden Point in the slot and Alex killorn in front of the net?

“You almost have to be perfect kill penalties,” Quenneville said.

Florida was not, to say the least.

Tampa Bay scored twice in five power plays in Game 4, with Kucherov contributing one goal and one assist as part of his four-point (one goal, three assists) game. The Lightning are 7 for 15 in the series.

“Their power play is pretty dangerous, and I say pretty dangerous, extremely dangerous,” Quenneville said. “Some of the looks, that’s where they had the quality, and they don’t need a lot. We have to be better at this PK.”

Kucherov’s status for Game 5 in question after being injured during Panthers forward Anthony Duclair hit him on the left leg away from play at 10:57 of the third period.

Kucherov did not return and the Lightning did not provide a post-game update. Quenneville, however, didn’t think much of the slash.

“Not much for me,” he said. “I hope he’s doing well.”

Can Florida solve Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy?

The Panthers shouldn’t be too worried about this one; they scored four goals in the first game and six in the third game. They have also scored at least four goals over Vasilevskiy four times in the regular season. The other six teams in the Discover Central division have combined to do so five times.

But Vasilevskiy made 39 saves in Game 4 and was arguably the Lightning’s best player.

“He’s a good goalie and he’s playing well, but I think we can do a better job in front of him, putting in rebounds, stuff like that,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “Obviously we know how to score on him and we have to find a way.”

The Panthers believe they will do so despite the mountain they must climb to win their first playoff series in 25 years. The teams that lag 3-1 are 29-291 (9.3 percent) winning an NHL Best-of-7 series, and Tampa Bay has never lost in 10 series with a 3-1 lead.

“We are not happy with today’s result, but nothing has changed,” said Barkov. “We’re always excited to be here. We want to win. We’re ready to win and we want to play the right way for 60 minutes. That’s how we’re going to win. It’s the only way.”