Let the playoffs begin: Lightning and Panthers drop puck Sunday

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning will be on the road to start the first round of the NHL playoffs, but they won’t have to go far.

The Bolts will begin their quest for a fourth Stanley Cup crown Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the Florida Panthers. 

The full schedule for the series has not been announced yet.

The Bolts swept the Panthers just two years ago in the 2nd round of the playoffs. This post-season meeting between in-state foes will be the third meeting in the past four seasons. 

Tampa Bay and Florida are playing each other in the postseason for the third time with the Lightning having won both previous series (2021 First Round, 4-2 Bolts and 2022 Eastern Conference Second Round, 4-0 Bolts).

The Lightning finished as the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers are the Atlantic Division champion.

Florida and Tampa Bay played three times in the regular season, with the Panthers winning the first two, 3-2 on Dec. 27 and 9-2 on Feb. 17. The Lightning won 5-3 on March 16.

Last season, Florida lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Lightning was defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first round.