Panthers rookie Knight starting Game 5 vs. Lightning

For the Florida Panthers, the future is now.

Spencer Knight will start Game 5 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.

The 20-year-old is making his postseason debut after appearing in four contests and starting three of them down the stretch of the regular season.

The Panthers' two more experienced goaltenders, Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger, have both struggled to stop a high-powered Tampa Bay squad, which leads the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Driedger is serving as backup Monday, making Bobrovsky a healthy scratch.

Bobrovsky allowed 10 goals on 54 combined shots while starting Game 1 and 4, and the 32-year-old has a .841 save percentage in these playoffs. Driedger hasn't fared much better - the 27-year-old has a .871 save percentage over his three appearances, including starts in Game 2 and 3.

Knight went 4-0-0 with a .919 save percentage during the regular season. Florida's 2019 13th overall pick is arguably the NHL's top netminding prospect.

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