Lightning have 2 goals called off in Game 5 loss

The Tampa Bay Lightning saw a goal called back for goalie interference in each of the first two periods of Monday's Game 5 series-ending loss to the Florida Panthers.

First, Anthony Cirelli's would-be opener was wiped off the board after Panthers head coach Paul Maurice successfully challenged the goal.

After review, the goal comes off the board. pic.twitter.com/NXgmloWqKd

- Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) April 29, 2024

Then, late in the second period, the Bolts appeared to tie the game at 2-2 on a point blast from Mikhail Sergachev. However, referee Eric Furlatt immediately called it no goal on the ice due to Cirelli making contact with Sergei Bobrovsky in the crease.

ANOTHER Lightning goal taken off the board. pic.twitter.com/vZeeBgHadz

- Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) April 30, 2024

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper addressed the calls after the defeat.

"This is clearly a turning point in the game," Cooper said, per Bally Sports Sun. "If anyone is going to talk about this game, they're going to talk about the goals that were taken away."

He added, "There's (league) mandates. The words were: To pull a goal off the board, it has to be unbelievably egregious. That's the standard to pull a goal off the board. Well, the first one's on the board, and I couldn't find anything remotely egregious about that."

Cooper conceded the missed calls weren't the reason his club lost the game, as the Panthers dominated the third period and advanced to the second round with a 6-1 victory.

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