SUNRISE, Fla. -- What a weekend it was for the Florida Panthers.

The capper came Saturday, when the first-place Panthers -- in a game between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division -- defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 at the BB&T Center.

Florida (28-15-5) earned two wins in two nights, outscoring the 2015 Stanley Cup finalists -- the Chicago Blackhawks and the Lightning -- by a combined 9-2.

"I don't know if we're still in the 'making statements' (mode)," Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo said. "People are aware we're a pretty good club."

The Panthers got four second-period goals - from center Jonathan Huberdeau, center Nick Bjugstad, right winger Reilly Smith and center Vincent Trocheck. Defenseman Brian Campbell got an empty-net goal with 4:08 left.

"We didn't play very well (in the second period)," Lightning center Steven Stamkos said. "They took it to us. We had three power plays in the first period to (potentially) take the lead, and we got nothing."

Indeed, Florida outshot Tampa Bay 19-5 in the second period.

"We were opportunistic," Huberdeau said. "(And) we got some good bounces."

Bjugstad's goal came on the power play -- but barely. There was only one second left on the man advantage when he scored, breaking Florida's 0-for-28 drought on the power play since getting its last goal on Jan. 2.

Luongo fell just short of his second straight shutout, allowing a power-play goal by defenseman Victor Hedman with 14:21 left in the third period. That broke Luongo's streak of 127:09 without allowing a goal.

Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov got an assist on the goal, extending his points streak to eight games.

Lightning right winger J.T. Brown added a goal with 1:29 left.

Florida beat Tampa goalie Ben Bishop, who entered the game with a 7-1-1 record and a 2.04 goals-against average in nine career starts against the Panthers. Bishop also ranked second in the NHL this season with a 1.94 GAA, but that was before this barrage.

Bishop lasted two periods and was pulled in favor of backup Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Tampa (26-18-4) had its seven-game win streak snapped, falling one victory short of tying a franchise record, but Lightning coach Jon Cooper credited the Panthers.

"I like their team -- they have that mix of veterans and young guys," Cooper said. "I thought Bjugstad had a really strong game. They have a big, strong defense. And they have a goaltender who can keep them in every game."

Stamkos, when asked if the Panthers are underrated, bristled.

"How can they be underrated -- they are leading the division and had a 12-game win streak," Stamkos said. "Whoever is underrating them hasn't been watching them play."

Huberdeau got the game's first goal and it came with 11:10 left in the second period. Huberdeau held the puck in the slot for a couple seconds, waiting for an opening before firing high and beating Bishop to the glove side.

Following a tripping penalty on Tampa Bay center Tyler Johnson, Huberdeau threaded a perfect pass along the crease to Bjugstad, who got the easy goal.

With momentum on their side, Smith made it 3-0 when his attempted pass bounced in off Hedman's skate. Florida's fourth goal was similarly fortuitous as Trocheck whacked at a loose puck, and it floated up and in as if escaping a sand trap.

"That hasn't happened to us this year where we have given up a bunch of goals like that in one period," Cooper said. "They got a couple of lucky ones, but they probably earned their breaks."

NOTES: Panthers D Aaron Ekblad has a personal win streak of 14 games. The last time he lost a game was on Dec. 12. ... Lightning RW Ryan Callahan has one goal in his past 34 games. ... Florida sent D Dylan Olsen down to the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates and scratched C Brandon Pirri, who remains on the trading block despite having perhaps the hardest and most accurate shot on the Panthers. ... Tampa Bay scratched RW Erik Condra and C Jonathan Marchessault. ... Tampa Bay is reportedly desperate to trade LW Jonathan Drouin, who has been suspended after eventually refusing to play in the AHL. Drouin, 20, was the third overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. ... There are reports that injured Panthers C Dave Boland, 29, could be bought out of the final three years on his contract once this season is over. He hasn't played since Dec. 12. ... Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr, who turns 44 next month, recently dropped 16 pounds, down to 226, and his work ethic has drawn raves.