Panthers and Lightning Renew Fierce Rivalry in Stanley Cup Playoffs

TAMPA, FL — The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are set to rekindle their fierce rivalry on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs at Amalie Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Both teams have formidable rosters and finished the regular season with identical records of 47 wins. The series marks the fourth postseason meeting between the two Florida teams in the last five years, adding intensity to an already heated competition.

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“It’s kind of always, we’re going to have to go through each other. I think there’s that respect there, but we almost love to hate each other,” said Panthers forward Sam Reinhart. Last season, the Panthers ended Tampa Bay’s playoff run, defeating them in six games.

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The Lightning, however, have a history of success against Florida, winning the East title from 2020 to 2022. Lightning forward Brayden Point acknowledged the rival nature of the games, stating, “They know us and we know them. We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good one.”

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Both teams have standout goaltenders. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky are both Stanley Cup champions and are expected to be crucial in this series. Vasilevskiy has posted a 1.89 goals-against average (GAA) while Bobrovsky has a 1.95 GAA since resuming the season.

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With a history of close games—both teams have won 10 in their last 20 meetings, including playoffs—the series is anticipated to be competitive. Florida’s last matchup sees them take on their historical rival while representing the hopes of their fans for another championship title.

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As anticipation builds, fans will also have various viewing options, including streaming on platforms like Fubo. The stakes are high as the battle for Florida reignites.