Lightning 3, Panthers 2 (OT)
Defenseman Victor Hedman scored a power-play goal 1:11 into overtime as Tampa Bay defeated visiting Florida in the season opener for both teams.
Goaltender Ben Bishop caught the Panthers on a change and zipped a pass up the left wing to Hedman, who went in alone to beat Roberto Luongo to the stick side for the winner. Tyler Johnson and Ryan Callahan added power-play goals, Valtteri Filppula notched a pair of assists and Bishop made 19 saves for the Lightning.
Defenseman Erik Gudbranson and Jonathan Huberdeau each scored for the Panthers, who successfully killed only 4-of-7 short-handed situations. Scottie Upshall was whistled for goaltender interference at the end of regulation to set up the winning goal and Luongo turned aside 29 shots.
The Panthers managed only three shots during a scoreless first period before Gudbranson gave them the lead at 5:03 of the second on a screen shot from the high slot. Tampa Bay tied the game 2:09 later while on the power play as Johnson redirected a cross-ice pass from Filppula off the right post and behind Luongo.
The Lightning took advantage of a 5-on-3 advantage to take the lead 7:17 into the third, when Callahan tipped home the rebound of Filppula's shot. The Panthers responded less than two minutes later as Huberdeau knocked in his own rebound at the right side of the net.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Hedman also had an assist for the Lightning, who are 8-1-1 against the Panthers since the beginning of the 2012-13 season. … Florida D Aaron Ekblad, the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, earned an assist on Huberdeau’s goal and logged 19:05 of ice time. … Toronto claimed Tampa Bay RW Richard Panik on waivers Thursday.