Lightning Aim for Ninth Straight Win Against Panthers Tonight

TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning will continue their quest for the Atlantic Division title as they face in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, at 7 p.m. ET on March 3. The game will take place at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. With an impressive winning streak of eight games, the Lightning are eager to extend their success this season.

The Lightning (35-20-4) are currently sitting with 74 points, while the Panthers lead the Atlantic Division with 77 points from a record of 37-21-3. In their past two meetings this season, the teams have split victories, with Florida winning 4-2 in December before the Lightning responded with a 4-0 shutout in January.

Historically, Tampa Bay has a slight edge over Florida, holding a lifetime record of 71-65-23 against the Panthers. Forward Steven Stamkos is the franchise leader in scoring against the Panthers, tallying 81 points (41 goals, 40 assists) in 67 games. Defensively, Victor Hedman leads current Bolts players against Florida with 48 points (7 goals, 41 assists) in 66 appearances.

The Lightning’s leading point-scorer, Nikita Kucherov, averages more than a point per game against Florida, with a record of 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 36 career matchups. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy also boasts a strong record against the Panthers, holding 16 wins and a .910 save percentage over his career.

Brandon Hagel has been on a scoring rampage, amassing 13 points in eight February games and leading the charge for the Lightning’s recent success. Following his standout performance, he was named the Bolts’ Player of the Month for February, contributing 7 goals and 6 assists. As Tampa Bay approaches this crucial matchup, all eyes will be on Hagel to see if he can maintain his scoring streak.

Fans can watch Monday’s game on FanDuel Sports Network and catch radio coverage on local channels. The Lightning will also be offering St. Patrick’s Day merchandise in their collection available online and at AMALIE Arena.

Looking beyond tonight’s game, the Lightning will be facing the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 4, followed by matchups against the Buffalo Sabres on March 6 and the Boston Bruins on March 8. As the season progresses, each game becomes increasingly vital in the race for playoff positions.