Andrew Brunette disputes Florida Panthers ‘party’ report

TAMPA — Florida Panthers coach Andrew Brunette vehemently denied a sports talk show’s assertion that a number of players were out partying in the wee hours of Monday morning following the team’s loss in Game 3.

A local Tampa sports radio show said a source saw a number of Florida players at a strip club early Monday morning.

The Panthers lost 5-1 to the Lightning on Sunday afternoon with Game 4 on Monday night.

“Those things, I guess, happen in our universe,” Brunette said. “Check your sources. That was not the case last night.”

The Panthers did not have a morning skate on Monday with a handful of the most recent scratches — Joe Thornton, Lucas Carlsson, Petteri Lindbohm, etc. — working out at Amalie Arena.

Brunette said there would be a couple of lineup changes in Game 4.

Thornton is in as is Anton Lundell; Ryan Lomberg and Anthony Duclair is out.

“I think Joe will bring energy and enthusiasm,” Brunette said. “That can rub off on our guys and I think we need that. We have been down the past couple of games. We need a little more energy, more life from our group.”

BREAKING NEWS on @PatandAaronShow: Sources say several Florida Panthers players were out partying at Tampa strip club until nearly 3 AM. Watch the video for more. #GoBolts #NHL 

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— The NHL announced if there will be a Game 5 on Wednesday night in Sunrise, it will start at 7 and televised on TNT.

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS 

PANTHERS V. LIGHTNING (TBL leads 3-0)

• Game 4: Monday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa 
• TV/Streaming: TNT
• Postgame: Bally Sports Florida
• Radio: WQAM 560 (Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WMEN 640 (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3 (Florida Keys); SiriusXM 
• Odds — Tampa Favored: Money Line (-125); Puck line (-1.5, +190); Over/Under 6 (+190/-235); Series (-1800)
• Tickets: CLICK HERE

PANTHERS V. LIGHTNING

• Regular season series — Tied 2-2: Florida 4, @Lightning 1 (Oct. 19); @Lightning 3, Florida 2 OT (Nov. 13); @Florida 9, Lightning 3 (Dec 30); Tampa Bay 8, @Florida 4 (April 24).
• All-time regular season series: Panthers lead 73-49-18, 10 ties
• Playoff history: Second meeting; Tampa Bay d. Florida 4-2 in R1, 2021
• Round 1: Florida d. Washington 4-2; Tampa Bay d. Toronto 4-3
• Full schedule — Game 1: Tampa Bay 4, @Florida 1; Game 2: Tampa Bay 2, @Florida 1; Game 3: @Tampa Bay 5, Florida 1; Game 4: Florida at Tampa Bay, Monday, 7 (TNT); Game 5*: Tampa Bay at Florida, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (TNT); Game 6*: Florida at Tampa Bay Lightning, Friday, May 27 (Time, TV TBA); Game 7*: Tampa Bay at Florida, Sunday, May 29 (Time, TV TBA). (*) — If necessary.