Bellemare's goal lifts Lightning to 1-0 series lead over Florida

The Tampa Bay Lightning took a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night in the opening game of their second round series. Tampa scored four unanswered goals to get their fifth win of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Florida scored first through Anthony Duclair, who picked up his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal with six minutes left in the first period.

The first goal of Round 2 belongs to @aduclair10! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/5oLmquqGzR— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 17, 2022

Florida held that 1-0 lead until late in the second period, when Nikita Kucherov pulled off some magic and made a brilliant play to deke around Aaron Ekblad and slide the puck across to Corey Perry who tied the game at 1-1.

WHAT A PLAY BY @86Kucherov!! ⚡️ #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/CWZM6qzpgV— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 18, 2022

Early in the third period, Lightning forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare picked up the loose puck in front of the net and fired it past Sergei Bobrovsky to take a 2-1 lead.

The @TBLightning take their first lead of the series! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/E6AGFXXZFk— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 18, 2022

With nearly six minutes remaining in the third, the Lightning were on the power play and Nikita Kucherov skated along the half-wall, curled back in through the left faceoff dot and ripped the puck into the net to give the Lightning a 3-1 lead.

All the time in the world. 😎#StanleyCup | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/AHJEKDVJT6— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 18, 2022

A few minutes later, Tampa was on the power play once again. Forward Ross Colton was unmarked in the slot and scored his fourth of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to extend the Lightning's lead to 4-1.

Ross Colton dagger 🗡 That's 4 unanswered for Tampa. pic.twitter.com/rMQurr2OA6— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 18, 2022

In the second period of Game 1, Lightning defenceman Erik Cernak blocked a shot in the lower-back, left the game and did not return. After the game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper told reporters that he didn't have an update on Cernak.

Erik Cernak left the game early after blocking a shot.

Watch @TBLightning postgame ➡️ https://t.co/0mR4L94xCh pic.twitter.com/aUCk8ldzLc— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) May 18, 2022

Jon Cooper said no update on Erik Cernak.— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) May 18, 2022

The Panthers will look to tie the series up at 1-1 on Thursday night as they host Game 2 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on TNT in the United States and CBC and Sportsnet in Canada.