Florida Panthers Start NHL Playoffs with Victory

The defending champion Florida Panthers kicked off the NHL playoffs with a strong performance, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 in an away game. National team player Nico Sturm and his teammates showcased their skill as Matthew Tkachuk scored two goals and assisted on the final goal of the match. Sturm did not contribute directly to any goals.

In the best-of-seven series, a team needs to secure four wins to advance to the next round. Last season, the Panthers triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers in the finals, led by Leon Draisaitl.

Meanwhile, Tim Stützle continues to seek his first playoff victory in his NHL career. The Ottawa Senators faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in their second playoff game, falling short once again. After losing 2-6 in the series opener, they lost 2-3 this time, with the defeat coming in overtime. Stützle assisted Adam Gaudette in the third period to tie the game, but could not prevent the second loss in as many games.