Panthers drop to third in the Central after Lightning beat Stars

Photo by Scott Audette/NHLI via Getty ImagesThe Tampa Bay Lightning took advantage of one its games in hand on the Florida Panthers, defeating the Dallas Stars by a 6-2 count at Amalie Arena to move into second place in the Atlantic Division.

Both of the Sunshine State’s NHL teams have amassed 75 points, but Bolts still have a game to play against Dallas on Friday before finishing off the regular season with pair against the now third place Cats at BB&T Center.

Tampa Bay can still max out at 81 points (and win the division forcing a Florida at Carolina series, but the odds of that are remote) while can the best the Panthers can do is 79. The math now strongly favors the Lightning gaining…