On verge of being swept, No. 1 seed Florida Panthers try to 'find some energy and some passion'

The Florida Panthers' postseason is officially on life support after they fell 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Sunday.

Tampa Bay now leads the best-of-seven series 3-0, and can eliminate the Presidents' Trophy-winning Panthers with a victory in Monday's Game 4.

«They have more will and more desire than we do,» Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. «We're a good team when (our) backs are against the wall, and it looks bleak. Hopefully, we can find some energy and some passion and some joy.»

Only four teams in NHL history have come back to win a playoff series after trailing 3-0. If Florida can't produce a victory, the Panthers will become the first regular-season points leader (122) to be swept from the playoffs since, ironically, the 2019 Lightning were sent packing by Columbus in their first-round series.

Since then, Tampa Bay has won two consecutive Stanley Cups. And the Lightning have looked every bit like champions shutting down Florida's once-potent offensive attack.

The Panthers have scored only one goal in each of the series' first three games, an impotence in stark contrast to their regular-season dominance, when they averaged a league-high 4.11 goals per game. Florida was never shut out either, and registered just one goal only three times.

In each of those outings — all losses — the Panthers also allowed four or more goals against. That's been the case in two of the three losses to Tampa as well.

«It's on us,» forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. «I've got to be better. Every guy can do a little bit better, play more of our game. Giving them the puck, that's what they're waiting for. They're a good team. They just wait for us to make mistakes and they