TAMPA, Fla. – The intensity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is set to ignite in Tampa Bay tonight as the Lightning welcome their cross-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, to AMALIE Arena for Game 1 of their highly anticipated First Round series.
This marks the fourth time in the last five seasons that these two Sunshine State powerhouses will clash in the postseason, a testament to their consistent competitiveness in the Atlantic Division.
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The Lightning hold a historical edge in playoff matchups against the Panthers, boasting a 9-6 all-time record, including a strong 5-2 mark on home ice. However, memories of last year’s First Round, where the Panthers emerged victorious in five games, are sure to fuel both sides.
The 2024-25 regular season saw the in-state foes split their four meetings, each team securing two wins. Florida took an early 4-2 victory in December, but Tampa Bay responded emphatically the following night with a 4-0 shutout.
The Panthers edged out a 2-1 win in early March, only for the Lightning to claim a decisive 5-1 victory in their final regular-season encounter on April 15th at AMALIE Arena.
This back-and-forth may set the stage for a tightly contested and emotionally charged playoff series.
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and locally on FanDuel Sports Sun. Radio coverage can be found on 102.5 The Bone.
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