The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning faced off in a game on Tuesday night that, while it may not have had significant implications for the standings, set the stage for an intense playoff rivalry. The Lightning emerged victorious, defeating the Panthers 5-1 in Florida’s final game of the 2024-25 regular season.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs clinching the Atlantic Division title earlier in the evening, the Panthers and Lightning are officially set to meet in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This matchup marks the fourth time in the past five postseasons that these two teams will clash in the playoffs, and Tampa Bay will hold home ice advantage, with Game 1 expected to start on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
Despite the loss, the Panthers had several key players resting, including Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and Gus Forsling. Head coach Paul Maurice expressed optimism about the upcoming playoff series, saying, "I think it’s great. It’s always a battle and it’s going to be a good matchup." He emphasized the importance of the rivalry, noting, "When we’re walking to the rink today, there’s a whole bunch of Florida Panther fans outside and then there’s a lot of Tampa Bay fans. I think when you have that rivalry in state, especially in a non-traditional hockey market, it brings the communities around more involved and that’s how it grows."
The Lightning wasted no time in taking control of the game, with Brayden Point scoring the first goal just 1:32 into the first period. Conor Geekie followed up with a one-timer at 15:25, extending the lead to 2-0. The Lightning struck again shortly after, with Jake Guentzel netting a shorthanded goal at 18:09, making it 3-0.
Nikita Kucherov, who has been a standout performer this season, added to his league-leading point total by scoring at 4:42 of the second period, pushing the Lightning’s lead to 4-0. Kucherov's performance brought his season points total to an impressive 120.
Brad Marchand finally put the Panthers on the board at 5:36 of the second period, scoring his 23rd goal of the season. This game also marked a milestone for Marchand, as it was his 1,100th NHL regular-season game, with 1,090 of those played with the Boston Bruins.
The Panthers’ lineup was missing several key players, and the absence of their star center, Barkov, was felt throughout the game. Florida's scratches included Reinhart, Forsling, A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Tomas Nosek, leaving them with a depleted roster as they prepared for the playoffs.
As the game progressed, Jesse Puljujarvi received a 5-minute match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Mitchell Chaffee, further complicating the Panthers' situation.
Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Panthers will be eager to welcome back Matthew Tkachuk, who could return for the first time since his injury at the NHL: 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025. However, they will have to navigate the first two games of the series without defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who is suspended but eligible to return for Game 3.
The season series between the Panthers and Lightning concluded in a tie, with each team winning two games. The Panthers secured a 4-2 victory at Tampa Bay on December 22, 2024, while the Lightning responded with a 4-0 win the following day at Florida. The Panthers managed to edge out the Lightning 2-1 in their March 3 meeting, showcasing the competitive nature of this rivalry.
Historically, Florida leads the all-time regular season series against Tampa Bay with a record of 79-53-19, including 10 ties. However, in the all-time postseason series, Tampa Bay currently holds the advantage with a 2-1 record, having won the first round in 2021 and the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2022. The Panthers, however, flipped the script last year by eliminating the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.
As the anticipation builds for the upcoming playoff series, both teams are aware of the stakes involved. The Battle of Florida is not just another playoff matchup; it’s a clash of fierce rivals with a history that adds an extra layer of intensity to the games. The Lightning will look to leverage their home ice advantage, while the Panthers will aim to regain their full strength and capitalize on their playoff experience from the previous year.
With the playoffs set to begin soon, fans from both sides are gearing up for what promises to be an electrifying series. The excitement is palpable, and as the Panthers and Lightning prepare to face off once more, one thing is certain: the Battle of Florida will deliver thrilling hockey action that fans won’t want to miss.
