But this time there's a twist. In 2021 and 2022, the Lightning were the defending Stanley Cup champion; this time the Panthers are. Each time the two teams have faced each other, the winner of the series has gone on to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Monday night will have major ramifications in the Stanley Cup playoffs series between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. A Panthers win gives Florida a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series,

Injuries limited his ability to make a greater impact. Now, the team faces a tough call concerning its top pending free agent.

Only three games into his first playoff run with the Lightning, the 30-year-old forward continues to produce. As he has for his entire career, Guentzel is once again showing his extra postseason gear which was part of the reason Tampa Bay was eager to sign him to a seven-year contract last summer.

After missing the last two months of the regular season with a lower-body injury, Tkachuk opened the 2025 postseason with a dominant two-goal performance.

The Panthers eliminated the rival Lightning on the back of a four-point night by Eetu Luostarinen and a game-winning goal by Sam Bennett.

For the second consecutive season, the Panthers beat the Lightning in five games in the Battle of Florida. Here's why.

The Florida Panthers are playing their in-state rivals Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning meet Wednesday as they continue their Eastern Conference first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Florida Panthers face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, April 28, 2025.